NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College softball team dropped its midweek non-conference matchup against Stony Brook, 6-0. The Seawolves used two three-run innings and a pair of homeruns to hand the Gaels their third straight loss.

Rookie Samantha Bender started for the Maroon & Gold and went three innings allowing three earned runs on six hits, one walk and one hit batter. The rookie struck out two. Stony Brook busted the scoreboard in the top of the first inning with three runs on four hits. Junior Irene Rivera and sophomore Riley Craig each had RBI hits while senior Chelsea Evans earned a RBI with a walk.

Senior Jessica Harkness entered in relief of Bender in the top of the fourth inning. The lefty held the Seawolves scoreless until the top of the sixth inning. After striking out the leadoff batter, senior Ileana Torres homered to right field to make the score 4-0. With two outs, sophomore Taylor Pechin blasted a two run homer to dead-center, bringing home Rivera who had walked with two outs.

The final four outs of Stony Brook all came via strikeout. Junior Alana Evans ended the sixth inning with a K and proceeded to strike out four batters in the top of the seventh. A pass ball by sophomore Courtney Blasko resulted in the rare feat.

Iona left nine runners on base, including two in the third, fourth and seventh inning. Freshman Natalia Meray had a team-high two hits. Juniors Marisa Gergel, Kimberly Chiapparelli and sophomore Jasmine Temple had one hit each.

The Gaels return to MAAC action this weekend against Monmouth and Marist. It's Youth Day on Saturday when the Hawks come to New Rochelle, and the Maroon & Gold honor their four seniors on Sunday prior to the doubleheader against the Red Foxes.