NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College softball program used a pair of walk off victories on Sunday afternoon to pin down a perfect start to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season.
The Gaels got a game-winning two run blast from sophomore third basemen Kimberly Chiapparelli to earn an extra inning 4-2 game one win, and senior first basemen Kristen Turner bashed a screaming double in the bottom of the seventh to clinch a 5-4 come-from-behind game two triumph.
GAME ONE: Iona 4, Canisius 2 (8 Innings)
Freshman Marnie Skinner started her first MAAC game and went seven innings allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks. She faced 27 batters, striking out two and stranding six Golden Griffins on the bases. Sophomore Alana Evans earned the win after holding Canisius scoreless in its one extra-inning at bat.
Skinner dueled toe-to-toe with Canisius's junior hurler Madi Weathers as each kept their opponent at bay for the first four innings. The Golden Griffs crossed the plate first in the top of the fifth when junior Moriah Harris connected on her fourth homerun of the season.
It didn't take long for the Maroon & Gold to knot things back up. In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Marisa Gergel singled to second base allowing senior centerfielder Kelsey Long, who led off the inning with a double, to score and tie the game at 1-1.
In the top of the seventh inning, Canisius retook the lead off Kreimann's second RBI single of the game; her base knock scored Harris who walked with one out to begin the rally.
Down 2-1 with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Turner came through clutch with her first hit of the game to bring home the game-tying runner senior left fielder Ashlyn Morris. Gergel was thrown out at third base on the play, and junior catcher Tori Danner flew out to send the game to extra innings.
Canisius stranded two runners in its eighth inning attempt; Evans was able to dance around trouble by getting Harris to fly out deep to center.
Senior shortstop Katie Newton popped out to first to begin the bottom of the frame. Freshman designated player singled through the left side, bringing up Chiapparelli. On the first pitch she saw, the second-year hot corner player crushed her sixth homerun of the season to give the Maroon & Gold a 4-2 win.
Iona finished game one with eight hits, three earned walks, and eight runners left on base. Gergel and Temple each had a team-high two hits.
GAME TWO: Iona 5, Canisius 4
Canisius got after Iona starter junior Jessica Harkness quickly. The Golden Griffins had four of their first five batters reach base, three of which came around to score. Evans, who earned the win in game one, came in with the Maroon & Gold trailing 3-0 and an additional runner on first. The second-year pitcher rallied the troops and escaped further danger by getting sophomore Denver Keller and freshman Gianna Degaltini to strikeout.
Iona was not disheartened by the early deficit. Danner walked with one out in the first to load the bases for Temple. The Gaels' designated player then singled to right field to score Morris and Gergel and bring the Maroon & Gold back within one.
The Gaels and Golden Griffins combined for one hit over the next 3 ½ innings. The offensive drought ended in the bottom of the fifth with the top of the lineup coming through. Morris doubled down the left field line with one out, and following Gergel reaching base with an error and Turner on a walk, Danner took to the plate with the bases loaded. Finding herself down in the count, she battled until junior Erika Mackie threw a wild pitch, permitting Morris to scurry home and tie the game.
Come the seventh inning, sophomore designated player Lauren Castro took it upon herself to give Canisius a big boost with a line drive screamer over the left field wall. Her sixth homerun of the season gave the Golden Griffins a 4-3 lead come the Gaels final attempt.
Morris singled to left center with one out, and Gergel followed it up with a walk. Turner stepped into the box, having already supplied one clutch hit on the day. She wasn't done yet; the unanimous All-MAAC First Team member scorched a line drive over the shortstop and saw it roll toward the fence. Head Coach Melissa Inouye frantically waved both Morris and Gergel home, and soon after the dust settled Iona was celebrating its second walk off win of the afternoon.
Morris led Iona with a team-high three hits while Turner and Temple each finished game two with a pair of runs batted in. Morris scored three runs and Gergel cross the plate twice.
Iona is currently in first place in the MAAC with a perfect 4-0 record. The Gaels return to action on Wednesday, Apr. 5 when they take on non-conference opponent Sacred Heart in Fairfield, CT at 3:30 PM.
