NEW ROCHELLE, NY – History was made Tuesday afternoon at Donald E. Walsh Field. Junior Kristen Turner became the All-Time Home Run Leader in Iona College softball history by blasting her tenth and 11th round-trippers of the 2016 season. Turner now has 34 career home runs, surpassing the former title holder, 2014 graduate Eileen McCann.
Over the course of Iona's crucial two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference wins over the visiting Siena Saints, Turner propelled the Maroon & Gold offense, gathering four hits, and five much-needed runs batted in. Following Tuesday's welcomed 8-3 and 5-3 victorious results, the Gaels now stand at 7-9 in MAAC play, and they find themselves in the thick of a playoff birth chase.
GAME 1: Iona 8, Siena 3
Iona got off to a hot start in game one when junior shortstop Katie Newton doubled to left center on the second pitch of the game. Junior leftfielder then immediately followed suit with another two-bagger to bring home Newton and the Gaels' first run of the game.
The first inning mojo continued when sophomore catcher muscled out a 14-pitch walk to load the bases with two outs. Junior Kelsey Long then walked on six pitches, battling back after being down 0-2, earning an RBI as Turner crossed the plate.
After a 1-2-3 Siena top of the second, Iona's slugging first basemen approached the plate with Newton and freshman Marisa Gergel on the pond. Turner took a 2-2 pitch and porked it over the right field fence for her record-tying homer.
Sophomore Jessica Harkness, who pitched an overshadowed very effective game, allowed the Saints' first run come the top of the third. Freshman outfielder Loryn DeFalco led the inning off with a double, and scored Siena's first run by advancing one-base per sequential soft groundouts to Newton.
Iona bounced back when Morris made sure a bases loaded, nobody out opportunity didn't go by the wayside; she softly chopped a single to third, allowing freshman pinch runner Samantha Mello to score.
The final two Iona runs of game one came via the lumber of Danner; in the bottom of the fourth she brought home a run with a stinger of a double, and then she followed it up with a bottom of the sixth leadoff homer.
Harkness earned her third win of the season, going seven strong innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks.
Newton, Morris, Turner and senior Christine Costello each had two hits in the opening game one win. Danner led the charge with three, while freshman second basemen Hailey Thompson chipped in one.
GAME 2: Iona 5, Siena 3
Senior Carly Argyle started game two in the circle, and she was dynamite over the course of the first three innings. She held 11 straight Siena batters without a hit; sophomore Paige Hess broke the streak with a lazy line drive single into right field with two outs in the fourth.
The Maroon & Gold gave Argyle a lead to work with in the bottom of the fourth. It all started with a one out double by Costello; after Danner lined out to the shortstop, Long was hit by a pitch, and Chiapparelli walked to load the bases. Sophomore right fielder Courtney Miller came up and fisted a grounder that slipped by Siena's second basemen DeFalco; the error allowed for Costello and Long to cross to plate and five the Gaels a 2-0 advantage.
The Saints got one back in the top of the fifth when leadoff hitter, senior catcher Sammy Smaldone walked with the bases loaded.
When Turner stepped into the box come the bottom of the fifth inning, she didn't keep anyone waiting in extended anticipation. Sophomore Lauren Butts wound up and delivered an off-speed 1-1 pitch; the new Iona home run queen kept her weight back and crushed a towering fly ball over the left field fence. Iona entered the sixth with a slim 3-1 edge on the scoreboard.
The Saints would not go down without a fight. Hess started the sixth with a single, and soon after a walk by junior designated player Chelsey Drew brought centerfielder Brooke Taylor to the box. The sophomore took the second pitch she saw and double to right center, bringing home the possibly-momentum swinging tying run.
Chiapparelli made sure the swing of pendulum quickly found its way back on Iona's favor when she took the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth and whizzed a double down the left field line. Miller successfully sacrificed her to third, bringing up the top of the order.
Newton hit a hardliner to the first basemen for the second out, bringing up senior pinch hitter Brianna King. In her final home game at Donald E. Walsh Field, King worked an eight pitch walk to keep the possible rally alive. Argyle rewarded her perseverance by taking the first pitch she saw and rifling a single straight to the centerfielder. Turner followed it up by going the opposite way with another base knock, bringing home a second insurance run for Iona.
Iona shut the door in the seventh, earning a sweep with a 5-3 game two decision.
There is no rest for the Maroon & Gold; tomorrow, Wednesday, May 4, the Gaels travel to Riverdale, NY for another crucial MAAC DH against the currently third place Jaspers. First pitch of the late afternoon double header scheduled for 3:00 pm.
