NORFOLK, VA / HAMPTON, VA – The Iona College softball team dropped a doubleheader at a pair of different venues on Saturday. At the Pirate-Spartan Classic, the Gaels fell to the local neighbor Hofstra in Norfolk, VA and then were bested by Hampton at its Lady Pirate Softball Complex.

GAME ONE: HOFSTRA 13, IONA 1 (6 Innings)

Hofstra jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning and didn't look back. The pride collected eight runs, four earned, off Iona starter sophomore Samantha Bender. The big blows came in the fourth inning. The Pride scored four runs in the frame, all of which were unearned. Bender finished the game throwing five innings allowing six hits and one walk while striking out four.
 
Junior Marnie Skinner came in and pitched one inning of relief in the top of the sixth. Hofstra loaded the bases with nobody out and Kristin Hallam cleared the whole lot with a grand slam to centerfield. Meghan Giordano followed it up with a solo blast to make it back-to-back home runs for the Pride.
 
Iona's lone run came in the third inning. Senior Marisa Gergel reached on a one out single. Sophomore Natalie Meray reached base forcing her out, but came around to score from first on a two-out double to right field from rookie Jessica Chilcott.
 
Hofstra's Madison Burns went the distance allowing one run on seven hits and one walk. She struck out five batters.
 
Gergel was the only Gael with more than one hit. Meray, Chilcott, senior Kimberly Chiapparelli, junior Ciara DiGuilio and senior Hailey Thompson all had one.
 

GAME TWO: Hampton 7, Iona 3

Each team began their offensive pressure in the opening inning. Iona took a 1-0 lead before the Pirates got an at-bat with Chilcott scoring on a double to right field from junior Jasmine Temple. However, Hampton answered with three in the home half.  Taylor Warrick singled into right field from the leadoff spot and came around to score on an error committed by the Gaels.  Her run was earned, but Dasha Hill's score on the same play was uncredited to Maroon & Gold starter Kara Zazzaro. A third run came across to make it a two-run lead for the Pirates.
 
The Maroon & Gold left two runners on base in the top of the second. Such a chance wasn't wasted in the third inning. Chilcott reached base with one out on a Pirate error. Temple walked to make it first and second. After Iona's rookie scored on a passed ball, Chiapparelli tied the game at three with a double to the opposite field.
 
After a scoreless fourth where each team left one runner on base, Hampton struck the decisive strike in the home portion of the fifth. Again it started with the top of the order and Warwick reaching base. After two consecutive strikeouts, Hampton hit four straight singles to place themselves atop the Maroon & Gold. At the end of the frame Iona trailed Hampton by the eventual final score, 7-3.
 
Iona's lost offensive surge ended with leaving sophomore Natalie Meray and junior Rebecca Gabert on base in the sixth inning.
 
Zazzaro started the game and went six innings and allowed five earned runs, seven total, on nine hits and three walks. She had five strikeouts. Hampton's starter Allie Hotetz went the distance and limited the Gaels to their three runs on six hits and three walks.
 
Meray had two hits for the Maroon & Gold. Temple, Chiapparelli, sophomore Kayla Hujber and Gabert each collected one hit.
 

UP NEXT

The Gaels play a pair of games tomorrow against Morgan State and Norfolk State. Both games are available on live stats and the finale of the weekend versus the Spartans is being streamed.

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