ELON, NC - The Iona College softball team dropped a 10-8 slugfest to UMBC Saturday evening in its second contest of the Phoenix Opening Tournament. The Gaels kept the Retrievers off the scoreboard in four of six innings, but were done in by a nine run fifth inning.
Junior Brianna Schauer led the Gaels with two home runs, driving in four runs and scoring twice. Freshman Ashlyn Morris and sophomores Christine Costello and Sarah Schutz also collected multi-hit efforts in the game.
The Maroon & Gold went in order in the top of the first inning before allowing UMBC to put a run across in the bottom of the frame. Danielle O'Neill scored on a fielder's choice to put the Retrievers ahead 1-0.
In the top of the third inning, the Gaels put four runs across. Schuaer connected on her first round tripper of the day, a three run shot with one out. Senior Katie Jansson singled to left center later in the stanza, scoring freshman Kristen Turner with the fourth run of the inning.
UMBC jumped ahead for good in the fifth inning with its nine runs. The Retrievers racked up eight hits in the inning and took advantage of two Iona errors. O'Neill led off with a solo home run before Caitlin Chance, Jaclyn Buckley and Taylor Hall all delivered run scoring hits.
The Gaels would not go quietly, trimming the deficit with four runs in the seventh inning. Schauer led off the frame with her second long ball. With the bases loaded with one out, pinch hitter Carly Argyle drove in Turner with an infield single. Schutz reached on an error to score freshman Katie Newton before pinch hitter Eileen McCann drove in Jansson with a sacrifice fly. The Gaels' hopes were later dashed as the final out was recorded on a fielder's choice.
Costello (0-1) took the loss for the Gaels in the circle, allowing five five runs and seven hits in 4.1 innings. Sophomore Jordan Courage allowed five runs, three earned, and four hits in 1.2 innings of relief.
The Gaels close out their weekend in Elon Sunday with a pair of games. At 11:15 am, Iona takes on Saint Joseph's before taking on the host Phoenix at 1:45 pm.
