LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Iona College softball split a Sunday afternoon doubleheader with Rider University in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action held at Herb & Joan Young Field. In game one, the Gaels let up six late runs and fell to the Broncs 10-6 before securing a 10-5 extra inning victory in the nightcap.
In the opener, the Broncs put up four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Dana Sensi delivered the big blow of the inning, with a three run home run to right center before Mary Rossi plated another run with a sacrifice fly.
The score would remain the same until the top of the fourth inning when the Gaels struck for four runs of their own. After senior Beth Kann led off with a single to left, freshman Sarah Schutz homered to right field for sixth long fly of the season to trim the Iona deficit in half. After sophomore Allison Hand walked and classmate Carly Argyle double to left to put two runners in scoring position, freshman Sydney Dimon would deliver a one out a single to right, driving in Hand with the third Iona run. Junior Katie Jansson would chase home Argyle with her own single to left, tying the game at four.
The Broncs would quickly respond, taking the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Allysen Breeden singled to right field to drive in two before an Iona error would allow a third Rider run to score on the play.
Rider would put two more across in the fifth inning on a double by Amanda Irving and another in the sixth on a home run by Kim Valdes.
In the top of the seventh, Schutz would start a two out rally with a double to right center before scoring on a double by Hand. Argyle would drive in Hand with a single to right to cut the Rider lead to four, but the comeback would fall short as the Broncs secured the final out on a line drive to centerfield.
Argyle took the loss for Iona, allowing nine hits, six runs, four earned, in six innings of relief. Ali Meagher was credited with the win for Rider, allowing 12 hits and six runs over seven innings.
After two scoreless innings in game two, Iona plated two runs in the top of the third inning. Senior Jodi Petersen and sophomore Brianna Schauer and Kann reached with straight singles before Hand drove in two with a single to right field.
Iona would extend its lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth. After a Petersen walk, Schauer doubled down the left field line, putting two runners in scoring position. Kann would follow with a single to center, driving in Petersen before Hand drove in Schauer with a sacrifice fly to right.
Rider would quickly get back into the contest with three runs in bottom of the sixth inning. Sensi would be credited with an RBI single to left field before Valdes scored two with a single to center field.
Ahead by just one, Iona pushed its lead to two, 5-3, with a run in the seventh. With two out, Argyle doubled to left field and later scored when Jansson reached on a Rider infield error.
Rider would send the game into extra frames with a dramatic game tying two run home run by Lauren Davies.
The Gaels would not allow the Broncs a chance for extra life with five runs in the top of the eighth inning. Petersen led off with a single and Schuaer reached on a hit by pitch. Petersen would come around to score what turned out to be the game winning run when Kann reached on a Rider error. Schutz would load the bases reaching on a fielder's choice before Hand plated Schuaer with a sacrifice fly. Dimon would deliver the biggest blow of the inning, driving in Kann and Schutz with a double to right field before pinch runner Cari Anderson scored on a single to right by Jansson.
Rider would load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning before the Gaels induced a double play and Argyle retired the final out with a strikeout.
Argyle pitched all eight innings in the contest to earn her sixth win of the season, allowing four earned runs and 18 hits while striking out six. Meagher went the full for Rider, falling to 1-11 on the season, allowing 10 runs, five earned, along with 13 hits.
Iona, now sits at 4-4 this season in conference play, and returns to action Tuesday when they travel to West Point, NY for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:30 pm.
