SPARTANBURG, SC - The Iona University softball team swept Drexel and Queens University on Saturday, earning its first two wins of the 2023 season.
Kenadie Gonzalez,
Jamie Sheeran and
Allie Taylor all homered to power Iona's offense, while
Samantha Rieb and
Kara Zazzaro earned wins in the circle.
GAME ONE: IONA 9, DREXEL 6
Iona opened the scoring in the top of the first; Sheeran capitalized on a two-out walk by blasting her first homer of the season to register the Gaels' first runs of 2023. Drexel responded in the bottom half, scoring three runs to quickly erase Iona's lead and put the Gaels behind.
The Maroon & Gold exploded for four runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing again on free passes at the dish. Both Sheeran and Jessica Chilcott walked, followed by a Kaylin Flukey that plated the tying run. Gonzalez followed with her first homer as a Gael, a three-run shot down the leftfield line that put Iona ahead, 6-3.
Iona added two more runs in the fifth inning, both coming across to score with two outs in the frame. An infield single by Chilcott brought Taylor home and another Flukey single made it 8-3 in favor of the Gaels. Drexel plated runs in the fifth and sixth innings to trim Iona's lead to three runs, but an insurance run courtesy of a two-bagger by Chilcott was more than enough for Iona to notch its first victory of the 2023 season.
GAME TWO: IONA 8, QUEENS U. 7 (8 INN.)
Sheeran started the party in game two with another two-run shot in the first inning to open the scoring. Queens scored a run in the first and third innings to tie the game at 2-2, where it stayed deadlocked until the fifth inning.
Iona starter Alyssa DeJianne surrendered a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the fifth, finishing out the inning with a punchout. Iona's offense responded in a big way, scoring four times to even the score once again. Flukey notched her third run-scoring single of the day to start the rally and Taylor provided the power with her first homerun of the year, a three-run shot that tied it at 6-6.
The Gaels would take the lead in the top of the seventh, but Queens rallied to tie it once more in the bottom of the seventh and send the game to extra innings. Iona's free runner, Destiny Nardello, came around to score from second after an error behind the plate. Rieb, who entered in relief of DeJianne after six solid innings, closed the door and secured a sweep on day two for Iona at the Wings Etc. Classic.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Marist defeated Hawaii, 3-2, in Honolulu, Hawaii. They face St. Bonaventure and Hawaii later this evening.
- Rider won a pair of games against Wagner and Campbell in Creek, North Carolina.
- Mount St. Mary's topped Saint Joseph's, 2-0, before falling to Coastal Carolina later that day in Conway, South Carolina.
- Siena dropped a contest to Notre Dame, 2-0, in Madeira Beach, Florida. They take on Dartmouth later today.
UP NEXT
Iona faces USC Upstate tomorrow at noon to wrap up play at the Wings Etc. Classic.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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