SAN JOSE, CA – The Iona College softball team got its first win of 2019 on Saturday, topping UMass Lowell 7-1 in the first game of the day at the Spartan Invitational. The Gaels were topped by San Jose State in the nightcap of the doubleheader.

GAME ONE: IONA 7 – UMASS LOWELL 1

Freshman Kara Zazzaro got the nod in game one on the second day of the Spartan Invitational and she was sensational. The rookie got roughed up the night before by San Jose State (six hits, three walks and four runs) but bounced back on Saturday to record the first win of her collegiate career and help the Gaels to their first victory of 2019.
 
It wasn't a perfect start to the day for Zazzaro and the Maroon & Gold; a single and an error put runners on second and third with one away in the top half of the opening frame. A fly ball to left pushed home the first run of the day, but Zazzaro got Casey Harding to strikeout and end the inning with minimal damage done.
 
Iona was primed to strike back during its turn at bat in the bottom of the first. The Gaels loaded the bases with nobody out, and strike back is exactly what they did. Two bases loaded walks gave senior Kimmie Chiapparelli and sophomore Ciarra DiGuilio two of the easiest RBIs they'll earn all season. After Hailey Thompson flied out to right, senior Marisa Gergel delivered a two-RBI single down the left field line to open up a 4-1 lead for the Maroon & Gold in the first inning. A two-out walk for Kayla Hujber loaded the bases once again; sophomore Natalia Meray batted for the second time in the inning, this time against a new pitcher, and struck out swinging to end Iona's rally.
 
Things were quiet offensively for the next two and a half innings; Zazzaro struck out three and allowed just two base runners. Back at the dish in the bottom of the fourth, the Gaels loaded the bags again before recording an out. Thompson was retired by way of a fielder's choice with UMass Lowell cutting down the lead runner at the plate. A third bases-loaded walk gave Iona its fifth run and Gergel her third RBI of the afternoon. Freshman Hannah Collins grounded out to third but it allowed another run to cross the plate and Iona led 6-1 at the end of the fourth frame.
 
Zazzaro was magnificent over the final three innings with the comfort of a five run lead that eventually extended to six after a run-scoring single by DiGuilio. Zazzaro, a Southington, CT native, did not allow a hit over the final three innings and closed things out on her own to earn a complete-game win.
 
Iona scored seven runs on 10 hits and Zazzaro allowed just the one run (unearned), walking one, striking out eight and scattering four hits.

GAME TWO: SAN JOSE STATE 8 – IONA 1

The second game of the day did not go quite like the first one; the Gaels defense let them down early on. A six-run second inning came to fruition because of an error Thompson. Junior Marnie Skinner worked around two leadoff singles, getting the next two batters to ground out. The defensive miscue allowed two runs to come around to score, then led to four more runs before the inning came to a close. The Spartans got six runs on five hits in the frame, though none of them were charged to Skinner because of the two-out error.
 
The Gaels got one back the next inning when Temple doubled down the leftfield line, scoring Chilcott who reached on a base on balls the at bat prior. Sophomore Samantha Bender relieved Skinner in the fourth and set down San Jose State in order.
 
The Spartans would get one more unearned run, their seventh of the game, in the fifth inning. Jennessa Ullegue shut down the Gaels, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out eight. Skinner was handed the loss, her fifth of the season, lasting just two innings; she allowed eight hits, seven runs (one earned) and retired just six of the 17 batters she faced.

UP NEXT

Iona concludes play at the Spartan Invitational tomorrow afternoon against the host, San Jose State. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (11 AM PST) and fans can follow along via live stats here.

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