NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College softball team split a frigid Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against Siena on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Marnie Skinner threw a shutout seven-inning effort in game one's win while junior Alana Evans suffered defeat in game two despite allowing just one hit in a complete game.
GAME ONE: Iona 5, Siena 0
Sophomore Jasmine Temple gave the Maroon & Gold a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo blast. Her third homerun of the season led off inning and soon after the Gaels put additional pressure on the visiting Saints. Junior Kimberly Chiapparelli walked and stole scored base. Her aggressive nature on the base path allowed sophomore Ciarra DiGuilio reach base on a fielder's choice.
With runners on first and second, senior Tori Danner sacrificed herself to move her teammates into scoring position. Senior Courtney Miller walked to load the bases for junior Hailey Thompson. Iona's fleet-footed second basemen singled through to center field and drove home Chiapparelli and DiGuilio to give the Maroon & Gold a 3-0 lead.
The Gaels tacked on two additional tallies in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded for a second straight frame, Danner singled a bullet past third to score pinch-running senior Samantha Mello. Miller immediately followed with another base-knock to bring home Chiapparelli, bringing the score to its final bearing, 5-0.
Skinner went at least seven innings for the fifth time this season to earn her fifth win. Her fourth complete-game effort of 2018 was also her fourth career shutout performance. The Saints mustered just five hits while striking out five times.
Six different Iona batters collected one hit each. Junior Marisa Gergel and Temple had the only extra-base hits.
Sophomore Maddie McMahon started the game for the Saints and suffered the loss going 3.1 innings permitting 3 earned runs on three walks and three hits. Sophomore Brooke Hughes got through two thirds of an innings of relief; she allowed two earned runs on two hits. Senior Lauren Butts pitched the final two innings of the game with just a single hit while striking out four.
GAME TWO: Siena 2, Iona 1
Evans suffered her third loss of the season despite allowing a season-low one hit when pitching over a single inning. Her second straight complete game effort saw the three-time MAAC Pitcher of the Week let two earned runs on a soft line drive single to right center. Siena did draw five walks against the 2017 MAAC Pitcher of the Year.
The Saints began the top of the fourth inning with junior Jazmin Ortiz and junior Madysen Cossack earning back-to-back free passes. Freshman Isabelle DeChiaro sacrificed her teammates into scoring position for senior Paige Hess who punched home the deciding line-drive.
Iona got to within one in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Temple walked with one out and was pinch ran for by rookie Kayla Hujber. After the rookie swiped her second steal of the season, Chiapparelli drew a free pass to put runners on first and second. DiGuilio shadowed with a single to left field, scoring Hujber. Neither Danner nor Miller could score Chiapparelli who waited with bated breath in scoring position.
The Gaels left a runner on base in each of the last three innings, including two in the bottom of the seventh. Miller began the Maroon & Gold's last stand with a bunt single to the pitcher. Thompson sacrificed her over to second. With one out, sophomore Rebecca Gabert grounded to shortstop to bring around the top of the order. Gergel walked to get the winning run on base, but rookie Natalia Meray struck out on three pitches to end the potential rally.
Butts started the game for Siena and went five innings. She stranded three hits and three walks while allowing just one earned run. McMahon came on in the sixth inning and notched her first save of the season.
Gergel, Temple, DiGuilio and Miller each had one hit for Iona. Gergel, Temple, Chiapparelli and DiGuilio all earned one walk.
Iona returns to MAAC action tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 8 against Rider. First pitch from Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval is scheduled for 12:02 PM. Both games can be watched on ESPN3 & WATCHESPN.
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