ELON, NC - The Iona College softball team dropped its 2014 opener 13-9 to UMBC in eight innings Friday evening at the Phoenix Opening Tournament hosted by Elon University. The Gaels saw a three run lead evaporate as the Retrieves pushed across nine runs in their final three at bats.
In her collegiate debut, freshman DH Kristen Turner went 4-5 with a home run, double, three runs batted in and two runs scored. Sophomore 1B Christine Costello collected three hits, including a home run, and scored twice while graduate OF Eileen McCann reached base four times on two hits and two walks.
The Maroon & Gold found itself in a deep hole as UMBC scored four times in the top of the first inning on a trio of run scoring hits and an Iona infield error.
The Gaels struck back with five runs in the bottom of the second to grab a one run lead. Costello led the frame off with a solo home run. Junior SS Brianna Schauer drove in freshman 2B Katie Newton with an RBI single before Turner delivered a three run home run, driving in Schauer and junior OF Allison Hand.
Iona extended its lead to two, 6-4, when Costello scored on a wild pitch in the third. Turner then scored on a Retrievers' error in the fourth to put the Gaels ahead 7-4.
UMBC trimmed the lead to one, 7-6, with a pair of runs in the sixth inning when Danielle O'Neill and Taylor Hall scored on an RBI single by Chelsea Bertoglio.
The Gaels got the cushion back to two, 8-6, on a sacrifice fly by sophomore 3B Sarah Schutz in the bottom of the sixth.
Bridget O' Malley's two-run single in top of the seventh knotted the score at eight. Iona got the winning run to third in the bottom of the inning with one out but could not drive in the game winner.
The Retrievers completed the comeback with five runs in the top of the eighth inning. Megan Sauble provided the go ahead hit with a single through the left side. Following an Iona pitching change, Jaclyn Buckley drove in what turned out to be the game winning hit with a double to right center. UMBC scored three more runs in the frame, including two on Iona wild pitches.
The Gaels scored one run in the bottom of the inning on a Hand single to center field, but were unable to even the contest.
Nicole Casagrand picked up the win in relief for UMBC, allowing two runs, one earned, in 4.2 innings. Iona junior hurler Carly Argyle took the loss, allowing 11 runs, nine earned, in 7.1 innings. Freshman Sarah McMahon surrendered two runs in 0.2 innings of relief.
Iona continues action at the Phoenix Opening Tournament Saturday afternoon with a rematch with UMBC at 4:45 pm.
