NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College softball team fell, 4-0, to St. John's on Wednesday afternoon at Donald E. Walsh Field, splitting the season series with the Red Storm.
Allie Taylor and
Natalia Meray accounted for Iona's two hits in the shutout loss.
GAME SUMMARY
Samantha Rieb drew the start for the Gaels, setting down St. John's in order to begin play on Wednesday afternoon. Taylor made a highlight reel play in left to kickstart the afternoon, reaching over her shoulder and fully extending her body to secure a ball that was well over her head.
After Iona was retired in order in the home half of the first, the Red Storm registered the game's first hit on a bunt single by Madison Wallace. Wallace moved up to second after the ball was thrown away at first, but Rieb managed to strand what could've been the first run of the day by getting an infield pop up and a backwards K.
The Gaels' first hit of the afternoon came leading off the bottom of the third when Natalia Meray singled just to the right of the third-base bag. Meray was promptly erased off the bases on a fielder's choice by Hannah Collins, who was then doubled off on a sharp liner off the bat of Brianna Buck, ending the third inning.
St. John's placed another runner in scoring position, this time with one out in the fourth frame, but Rieb held her there to keep the score level at zero. Taylor laced a one-out single for the Maroon & Gold in the home half of the fourth, stealing second to represent Iona's first runner in scoring position. She moved up sixty feet on a ground out to third, but Saric stranded her there by inducing a grounder to short.
The Johnnies broke the tie and broke the game open in the fifth. The inning began with a hit batter and a sacrifice bunt that resulted in runners on the corners after a throwing error. With no one out still, St. John's pushed across the first run on a ball that Buck lost in the sun. Rieb got the first out of the inning on a grounder, but the Red Storm strung together a double, a hit batter and two more singles to make it a four-run game. The top of the fifth came to a close on a line out, but not before the four runs crossed for the visitors.
Iona went quietly in the home half of the fifth and sent out Maddy Lowry to the circle for the sixth inning. Lowry worked a 1-2-3 inning, keeping St. John's at bay in her first inning of work and turning it over to her offense. Buck ended up on second with one out after reaching on a dropped pop up and a wild pitch, but Saric set down Chilcott and Taylor to keep the shutout intact. Alexis Bailey worked a pinch-hit, two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, but Brianna Bailey struck out looking to end the afternoon and wrap up Iona's 2022 home slate.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Meray and Taylor notched Iona's two hits of the afternoon. The Gaels other baserunners were Alexis Bailey and Buck.
- Lowry worked two scoreless innings in relief, scattering two hits and striking out three to hold the Red Storm at bay.
- Rieb was charged with the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk. She also struck out three.
- Iona falls to 7-20 against St. John's in the all-time series and splits the season series after defeating the Johnnies in Queens earlier this season.
UP NEXT
Iona's final home doubleheader, scheduled for Saturday, May 6 against Albany, has been canceled. The Gaels will wrap up the regular season with a pivotal doubleheader at Saint Peter's on Sunday, May 7. The MAAC Championship is set to begin on Thursday, May 11.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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