BUFFALO, NY - The Iona College softball team moved to 4-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a two game sweep of Canisius College Sunday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex. In game one, the Gaels used a four run sixth inning to move pass the Griffs 10-8 before running away with a 16-6 decision in game two in five innings.
Over the two games, graduate student Eileen McCann reached base nine times, on a perfect 6-for-6 hitting effort with three walks. McCann connected on two home runs and drove in four runs over the double header. Freshman Kristen Turner drove in seven runs and hit one of Iona's four home runs on the day.
In the opener, the Maroon & Gold jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. With junior Carly Argyle on second and junior Brianna Schauer on first, freshman Katie Newton delivered a two run double to left center to push Iona ahead by a pair.
The Griffs trimmed the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the frame, before Iona countered with three runs in the top of the third. Freshman Ashlyn Morris led off the inning with a triple down the left field line. McCann followed with a triple of her own to give the Gaels a 3-1 lead. McCann scored on a Canisius error that put Turner on first. Senior Katie Jansson doubled to center field to put two in scoring position before sophomore Sarah Schutz drove in two runs with a single to center.
Canisius got within one with three runs in the third inning. Michelle DelPrince delivered a two run ground rule double to left field and following a wild pitch, scored on a sacrifice fly by Valorie Nappo.
Iona pushed the advantage back to two on a McCann home run to left field in the fourth inning. The Griffs took their first lead of the game, 7-6, with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Samantha Sharkey drove in a run with a bases loaded walk. Jessica Brevins then drove in two with a single up the middle to put Canisius ahead by one.
Iona took the lead for good with four runs in the sixth. Schauer led the frame off with a single to left. Newton reached on a hit by pitch. Junior Allison Hand pushed the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt before a walk to McCann loaded the bases. Turner then delivered her third grand slam of the season to left center to give the Gaels the lead for good.
The Griffs responded with one run in the sixth inning to trim the margin to two, 10-8, but were not able to gain any more ground on the Maroon & Gold.
Argyle picked up her sixth win of the season for Iona in the contest, allowing eight runs, 10 hits and seven walks over her seven innings, with five strikeouts. Jen Consaul took the loss for Canisius, allowing 14 hits, 10 earned rusn and two walks in the game, with four strikeouts.
In the finale of the day, the Gaels jumped out early with five runs in both the first and second innings. In the top of the first, McCann connected on a three run homer with no outs before Turner scored on a wild pitch and Schauer drove in Argyle with a single to center.
In the second inning, Hand off the inning with a solo shot to left center. Later in the frame, following a pitching change, freshman Kelsey Long walked and McCann singled to right center. After a wild pitch moved Long to third, and McCann stole second, Turner drove in her classmate with a single to third base. With the bases loaded, Turner scored on a wild pitch and Schutz plated Jansson and Argyle with a single to left center.
With the Gaels ahead 10-1, Iona scored three more times in the third inning. Following a walk to Hand, Long single and McCann walk, Turner drove in Hand with a sacrifice fly. Argyle followed with a single to left field, to score Long before Schutz delivered a single to center to score McCann and put Iona ahead 13-1.
Canisius plated two runs in the third, with both runs coming on wild pitches. The Gaels scored their 14th run of the contest when Hand scored on a ground-rule double to center by McCann in the fourth inning.
The Griffs scored three times in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to eight but it would be as close the home team would get. Berzins plated Nappo with a bases loaded walk. Meghan Cuda was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and Robin Kennery delivered an RBI groundout to second base.
Sophomore Jordan Courage picked up her second win of the season for Iona, allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks in 3.1 innings. Freshman Sarah McMahon allowed two earned runs on one hit and two walks in 1.2 innings of relief. Canisius hurler Jenn Solis took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and three walks.
The Gaels are back in action Monday morning, when they travel to Niagara for a MAAC double header beginning at 11:00 am.
