NEW BRITAIN, CT – The Iona College softball program dropped the final two games of the first ever Nor'Eastern Classic Tournament. The Boston University Terriers down the Gaels 4-2 in extra innings before Central Connecticut ousted the Maroon & Gold, 6-0.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY 4, IONA 2 (9 Innings)
The Gaels and Terriers exchanged offensive blows early before pitching and stellar defense propelled the two programs into a competitive nine-inning thriller.
Boston University scored two runs in the top of the first inning capitalizing on a pair of errors committed by the Iona defense. Senior Jilee Schanda came to bat in the Terriers' first go-around and reached base on an error committed by junior Kimberly Chiapparelli at third base. The miscue allowed senior Brittany Younan to score the opening run. Schanda created more scoring with a steal of second base that resulted in an error committed by senior catcher Tori Danner. Junior Alex Heinen scored to make the score 2-0 before Iona hit the batter's box.
The Maroon & Gold's answer come in the bottom of the second inning by virtue of its senior behind the plate. Danner blasted a homerun down the left field line the brought in her tying run and sophomore Ciarra DiGuilio, who had reached base on a single the at-bat prior. It was Danner's second homerun of the season.
The Gaels and Terriers traded timid innings until the top of the sixth. Junior Madi Killebrew doubled to left field with two outs to put a runner in scoring position. Senior Emma Wong followed it up with an infield hit to rookie Natalia Meray. Boston University attempted to get the leading run across the plate on the dribbler, but sophomore Jasmine Temple threw to Danner at home do gun down Killebrew who didn't hesitate in attempting to catch the Maroon & Gold off guard.
In the bottom of the sixth, Temple started an Iona rally with a one-out single up the middle. That was followed by Chiapparelli and DiGuilio earning back-to-back walks to load the bases. With just one out, the Terriers escaped danger by inducing swinging strikeouts from Danner and sophomore Taylor Brown.
The game went into extra innings and again defensive awareness saved Iona. With one out and a runner on third, freshman Jen Horita hit a groundball back in the circle. The Gaels were able to gun the runner trying to score and preserve the tie.
Iona had a chance to close out the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Meray, who started the inning on second base due the tournament inducing the international extra-inning rule, advanced to third with one out on an error the Terrier catcher. Temple was up the bat and hit a fly ball to right field and in an attempt to win the game, Meray was gunned down at the plate in an inning-ending double-play.
The game-winning run was driven home in the top of the ninth by a two-run blast by Heinen. Iona went down in order in its final at-bat.
CCSU 6, IONA 0
The Blue Devils limited the Gaels bats to just three hits while they had that number of extra-base hits. Central Connecticut had two homeruns and added a double and were never being retired in order by the Iona pitchers.
Senior Jessica Harkness started the game and went four innings allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks. Freshman Samantha Bender came on in relief in the fifth inning and surrendered two earned runs on five hits and two walks. The Blue Devils on struck out once in the game.
Meray had two hits to lead the Gaels lineup. One of her hits was a double to lead off the game. CCSU kept Iona without another hit until Meray collected her second hit in the top of the sixth inning. DiGuilo earned her base-knock in the seventh inning.
Iona's next game is its final non-conference contest before beginning the MAAC season. The Gaels travel to battle the St. John's Red Storm on Tuesday, Mar. 27 for a 3:00 PM first pitch. The league schedule commences on Saturday, Mar. 31 when the Gaels host Saint Peter's on Saturday, Mar. 31.
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