CLEARWATER, FL – The Gaels suffered a one-run defeat to open Saturday's competition before falling to the tournament host Bulls in the afternoon. The University of South Florida defeated the Maroon & Gold in five innings.

GAME ONE: Delaware State 3, Iona 2

The Hornets stung for three runs in the third inning off a two-run home run and a pair of base knocks. Senior starting pitcher Jessica Harkness was able to limit the damage by stranding two Delaware State runners to keep the Maroon & Gold in striking distance.

Sophomore Ciarra DiGuilio had a team-best two hits for Iona. Junior Marisa Gergel, sophomore Jasmine Temple and freshman Maggie Foley each had one hit.

Iona's first run came in the fifth inning with an infield single by Gergel that scored Foley, who had reached base on a one-bagger earlier. The deficit was brought to one in the sixth with rookie pinch-runner Kayla Hujber crossing the plate on a two-bagger off the bat of DiGuilio.

Delaware escaped danger in the seventh inning after Foley reached base on a walk to begin the frame. Freshman Natalia Meray laid down a bunt looking to advance Foley into scoring position, but the running rookie was thrown out at third base looking to take two bases on her classmate's sacrifice attempt.

Harkness went the first six innings for the Gaels and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks. She struck out five batters. Sophomore Marnie Skinner pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

GAME TWO: USF 9, Iona 1 (5 Innings)

The Bulls scored runs in their final four at-bats and bounced the Gaels around with six players tallying together nine hits. The only inning South Florida didn't have a hit in was its walk-off fifth and final at-bat. The game ended on an error after the Bulls stole their third base of the game.

Freshman Samantha Bender started for the Maroon& Gold and went three innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two strikeouts. Junior Alana Evans came on in relief and had three earned runs scored against her with USF battling out two hits and two walks. Both Bender and Evans struck out three batters.

Danner scored Iona's lone run and had one of the team's two hits. She scored on an RBI single from junior Hailey Thompson. Temple and DiGuilio were able to reach base on walks.

Iona wraps up its participation in the 2018 Under Armour Invite against Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Mar. 11.

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