NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Marist Sunday afternoon at the newly christened Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval. The Gaels took the first game 6-4 on freshman Kristen Turner's walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Red Foxes then took the nightcap 12-4 in five innings.
The game one victory clinched a spot in the 2014 MAAC Softball Championship for the Maroon & Gold. Turner led the Gaels with five runs batted in over the two games, bringing her season total to 45, a new Iona single season record. Junior Brianna Schauer collected a team high three hits over the two games while graduate outfield Eileen McCann scored three runs.
In the opener, following four innings of scoreless ball, Marist connected for three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Kyrsten Van Natta delivered a two-run RBI double to right center before Aly Klemmer plated her with a single up the middle.
The Gaels trimmed the lead to one with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. McCann led off the frame with a single to left. With two outs, senior Katie Jansson struck a 0-1 offering over the center field fence for her third home run of the season.
After the Red Foxes extended the lead to two with a run in the top of the seventh, the Gaels secured the win in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the stanza. With one out, freshman Katie Newton singled to center field. Following the second out of the inning, freshman Kelsey Long reach with a single of her own. McCann then reached on an Iona error to load the bases. Turner then lifted a 1-0 offering off the wall for her 11th home run of the season, tying the Iona freshman single season record held by McCann.
Junior Carly Argyle picked up her 11th win of the season for the Gaels in game one, allowing six hits, four runs, two earned, in her seven innings while striking out five. Paige Lewis (9-6) was charged with the loss, allowing six runs, two earned, on eight hits and two walks.
In game two, both squads plated a pair of runs in the first inning. The Gaels got their runs in the first when Turner drove in Long with a single to right field. Later in the frame, McCann scored on an outfield error by the Red Foxes.
Marist responded with four runs in the top of the second to take the lead for good. Alyssa Zahka delivered the big hit, on a three run home run to right field. The Red Foxes plated four more runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 10-2 run.
The Maroon & Gold trimmed the deficit to six with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Long was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Schauer before McCann plated sophomore Sydney Dimon with a single to right field.
Marist then closed out the game with two runs in the fifth to regain the eight run lead before retiring the Gaels in order in the bottom of the frame.
Iona starter Jordan Courage (4-11) took the loss in the contest, allowing eight hits and nine runs, five earned, in three innings of work. Janine Lalli (7-5) got the win for Marist, allowing four runs, three earned, in three innings.
The Gaels are back in action Monday, when they complete the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with Siena. Iona led the Saints 6-3 after three innings before rain suspended play.
