WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Iona College softball team dropped its first round contest of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship against the Manhattan Jaspers on Wednesday afternoon. Iona moves to the elimination bracket where it'll face the loser of the No. 2 Fairfield and No. 6 Marist matchup.
Manhattan threatened in the top of the first inning with two free passes earned by junior Lauren Pitney and freshman Adriana Gambino. With runners on first and second and two outs, junior Hailey Thompson ended the fray with a clever play in the three-four hole.
The Gaels scored in the bottom first inning on a string of singles. Junior Marisa Gergel hit her first pitch to left field and was immediately followed by a base-knock to right center from sophomore Jasmine Temple. Senior Tori Danner had a seeing-eye single to load the bases for junior Kimberly Chiapparelli. The Gaels hot-corner minder hit into a RBI fielder's choice to give the Maroon & Gold a 1-0 lead.
The Jaspers took the lead in the top of the second inning. Manhattan loaded the bases with a single and two walks and Pitney brought home two with a sharp grounded base hit to left.
Manhattan tacked on four additional runs in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs already recorded, Pitney began a rally with a single to left field. Senior Briana Matazinsky hit one sharply up the middle to make it first and second. Rookie Daniela Chiorazzi drove home one with second-straight single up the middle and Gambino made it a three-run advantage with a blooper over the second basemen.
Iona starting pitcher Marnie Skinner left the game in the top of the fourth with runners and second and third. Senior Jessica Harkness came on in relief and senior Shannon Puthe welcomed her with a single through the right side to make the score 6-1.
Skinner's final line was 3.2 innings allowing six earned runs on seven hits and four free passes. She struck out two Jasper batters.
The Maroon & Gold got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore Rebecca Gabert led the inning off with a double down the left field line. After advancing to third on a productive out by rookie Natalia Meray, Gabert scored on a groundout by Gergel.
Matazinsky is credited for the winning decision for Manhattan going the first 5.1 innings allowing two earns runs on five hits. She struck out one batter. Sophomore Kayla McDermott pitched the final 1.2 innings for the Jaspers. She struck out four batters and didn't allow a single hit.
Harkness finished the game going 3.1 innings allowing zero hits and one walk. She struck out two batters.
Manhattan swept the regular season series against Iona in Riverdale at Gaelic Park.
Iona plays the loser of No. 2 Fairfield vs. No. 6 Marist tomorrow at 2:00 PM. The Stags and Red Foxes play at 9:00 AM.
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