RIVERDALE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers took two from Iona in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader. Sunday's contests saw senior Tori Danner not starting behind the plate for the first time since May 5, 2016 against the same Jaspers.
GAME ONE: Manhattan 6, Iona 3
Manhattan scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, all of which came across the plate via the free pass. The Jaspers loaded the bases with nobody out and sophomore starter Marnie Skinner nearly escaped the jam by striking out the next two batters looking. Manhattan was able to work three straight walks with two outs to put Iona in the hole early.
Junior Kimberly Chiapparelli gave the Gaels a jump in the top of the second with her first home run of the season. Sophomore Ciarra DiGuilio followed the run-producing blast with a single to centerfield. She would eventually come around to score on an RBI groundout by senior Courtney Miller.
The Jaspers put themselves up by two in the bottom of the second inning when junior Lauren Pitney blasted a home run to make the score 4-2. Skinner stranded two additional hits and ensured Manhattan didn't score additional runs even with a fielding error in the inning.
Junior Hailey Thompson began the fourth inning with her second home run of the season. The loud shot chased Manhattan senior starting pitcher Briana Matazinsky from the circle. Sophomore Kayla McDermott entered in relief.
Iona squandered a chance to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Marisa Gergel walked and sophomore Jasmine Temple doubled down the right field line to make it second and third with one out. McDermott rallied her nerves and was able to get Chiapparelli and DiGuilio out without allowing the then tying or leading run to score.
Manhattan tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pitney walked to lead off the inning and Matazinsky followed with a single. Freshman Daniela Chiorazzi came through with a double to left center that scored both runners.
Skinner went six full innings for Iona, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and five walks. She struck out three batters.
The four-five-six batters in Iona's batting order, Chiapparelli, DiGuilio and Thompson, went a combined 3-for-9. They scored all three runs and drove home two. The remainder of batters 1-for-16 with three walks.
GAME TWO: Manhattan 9, Iona 1 (5 Innings)
The Jaspers began game two with a strong offensive push with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Manhattan got a two-run home run from Chiorazzi and added an additional tally with a RBI single by junior Kat Prevo. The third run scored was unearned as a pass ball advanced the Manhattan scorer to third base.
Temple hit her team-high fifth home run with two outs in the top of the third inning to get the Maroon & Gold on the board.
Manhattan rebuild its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Christine Gebhardt had a single up the middle to put the Gaels back down by three. Following to walks, Chiorazzi singled to left center for two additional RBI. With the score 6-1, the Jaspers pushed three additional runs across to cap off a six run, six hit, game-clinching inning.
Temple, DiGuilio and Gergel had Iona's three hits.
Junior Alana Evans went 3.2 innings allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and four walks. She struck out four batters. Senior Jessica Harkness entered to get the last out for the Maroon & Gold in the bottom of the fourth.
Iona returns to action with a trip to Western New York next weekend. The Gaels play Canisius on Saturday, May 5 and Niagara on Sunday, May. 6.
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