LEWISTON, NY - The Iona College softball team fell in back-to-back contests of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference double header Monday afternoon at Niagara. In game one, the Gaels were held to three hits and fell 2-1 before dropping the second game 9-8 in eight innings.

In the opener, the Maroon & Gold's only run came courtesy of a leadoff home run by junior Allison Hand in the top of the first inning.  The Purple Eagles then plated the go ahead run in two-run second inning as both runs came around on an Iona infield error.

Iona was held in check by Niagara starter Jenn Sansano, who picked up her seventh win of the year. Junior Carly Argyle was handed the tough luck loss, allowing two runs, one earned, and three hits while striking out six in six innings.

In the second game, Iona came back from a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the top of the second. Sophomore Sarah Schutz led off the inning with a home run before freshman Kelsey Long delivered a two out RBI single.

Trailing 3-2, the Gaels picked up their first lead of the contest with a three run third inning, courtesy of a three run home run by sophomore Sydney Dimon.

The Purple Eagles scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth to take a 6-5 before the Gaels claimed a 7-6 lead with two runs in the sixth inning. Senior Katie Jansson picked up the inning's big hit, driving in graduate student Eileen McCann and Hand with a single up the middle.

A run in the bottom of the sixth for Niagara knotted the game at seven and sent the contest to extra innings.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Jansson connected on a homer to left before the Purple Eagles grabbed the win with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Sansano picked up her second win of the day, allowing eight earned runs and 14 hits in her eight innings of work. Argyle took the loss, allowing three runs in 2.1 innings of relief.

The Gaels are back in action Wednesday, when they welcome Hofstra to Rice OVal for a non-conference tilt at 3:00 pm.