WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The fourth seeded Iona College softball team saw its season come to a close on Thursday afternoon in a 5-1 decision against the sixth seeded Marist Red Foxes.
Marist took advantage of two Iona fielding errors in the top of the second inning. Sophomore Claire Oberdorf led off with a single to right field and was sacrificed to second base. Freshman Lauren Beal reached on an error to make it first and second with one out. The bases became loaded with senior Kourtney Paul reaching on an infield single. Back at the top of the Marist order, MAAC Rookie of the Year Caroline Baratta hit a grounder up the middle that was bobbled into center field, resulting in all three runners crossing the plate.
Iona got one run back in the bottom of the second inning. After junior Kimberly Chiapparelli was robbed of a hit to begin the frame, senior Courtney Miller hit a seeing-eye single up the middle. Sophomore Taylor Brown then reached safely on a Marist error to make it first and second. Keeping the pressure on the Red Foxes, junior Hailey Thompson hit a ground ball that was booted by the Marist first basemen and Miller crossed the plate as a result of the miscue to make the score 3-1. Marist escaped Iona's continued second-and-third threat by getting the next two batters to ground out to the left side.
Paul gave the Red Foxes back their three-run lead in the top of the fourth inning with a triple to right center field. Scoring on the play was senior Miranda Perez who led the inning off with a walk. Paul would eventually score on an RBI groundout to the shortstop off the bat of junior Casey Page.
Sophomore Marnie Skinner started the game for Iona and went 6.1 innings allowing five runs, two earned, on five hits and one walk. She struck out one Red Fox batter. Senior Jessica Harkness came in relief and recorded the final two outs.
Marist converted on 57.1% of its advancement opportunities compared to 27.3% for Iona. The Gaels were 0-11 with runners on base and grounded into two double plays. Baratta was a vacuum at shortstop for the Marist. She assisted on 10 putouts without making an error.
Iona ends the 2018 season with 19-27 overall record. Seniors Tori Danner, Jessica Harness, Samantha Mello and Courtney Miller end their Maroon & Gold career with three MAAC Championship appearances. The four were part of Iona's first ever national postseason win last year in the National Invitational Softball Championship.
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