NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College softball team completed it regular season with a two game sweep of Rider University Sunday afternoon at Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval. The Gaels won both games in five innings, beginning with a 8-0 game one victory before a 11-3 win in the nightcap.
The wins clinch the number three seed in the 2014 MAAC Softball Championship for the Maroon & Gold, who finish MAAC play with a mark of 14-6. The 14 wins are a program record for conference victories in a season.
Junior Allison Hand led the Gaels with five hits over the two games, including three for extra bases. Hand delivered walk off hits in both games, including a fifth inning walk off home run in game two after the Broncs cut into the Gaels' 10-0 lead with three runs in the top of the inning.
Three Gaels scored three runs apiece, including graduate outfielder Eileen McCann, who moved into first all-time in the category with 113 career runs scored. Senior Katie Jansson, who along with McCann was honored before the game, was one of three players to drive in a team high three runs on the day.
In game one, the Maroon & Gold broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, sophomore Sarah Schutz drove a 1-2 offering over the left field wall. On her trip around the bases, Schutz missed second base and was called out on the play, resulting in a three run RBI "grand slam single."
Iona then put the game away with five runs in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded after a McCann single and walks to freshman Kristen Turner and Schutz, junior Brianna Schuaer drove in a run when she was hit by a pitch. Freshman Katie Newton then followed with the big hit of the frame, a bases clearing double down the left field line. With Newton on second, Hand then ended the game with an RBI single up the middle off Rider reliever Megan Ailand.
Iona starter Carly Argyle picked up her 12th win of the season in game one, allowing just two hits while striking out four in five innings of work. Rider starter Delany DeMello (2-15) took the loss, allowing 10 hits and eight runs in 4.2 innings.
In game two, the Gaels scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hand led off with a ground rule double to center before freshman Kelsey Long reached on a bunt single. McCann followed with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Hand with the game's first run. Turner singled to put runners on the corners before Jansson delivered a home run to right center field to push Iona ahead 4-0.
The Maroon & Gold scored three more runs in the second inning when McCann plated Newton with a single to right field and Turner followed with a two run double to left that put the Gaels ahead 7-0.
Iona took a 9-0 advantage in the third inning when sophomore Sydney Dimon connected on her second home run of the season, a two run shot to right center. The Gaels got their 10th run of the game in the fourth inning when freshman Lauren Filardi delivered a pinch hit RBI single to center field. It marked both the first hit and RBI in the rookie walk-on's career.
The Broncs would not go quietly in the second game, as they scored three times in the top of the fifth. Mary Rossi scored Rider's first run of the day when she came in from third on a bases loaded outfield error by the Gaels. Dana Sensi then drove in a run with a bases loaded walk before Megan McDonough delievered a sacrifice fly to left to cut the Iona lead to seven, 10-3.
Hand then ended the game once again in the fifth when she took a 2-0 pitch to center field for her eighth home run of the year. Iona starter Jordan Courage picked up her sixth win of the year for Iona in the game, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walk in five innings. Ailand (0-3) started for the Broncs, and allowing seven runs and eight hits in two innings.
The Gaels will begin MAAC Championship play Wednesday, at 12:00 pm when they take on the number six seed Manhattan Jaspers.
