LYNCHBURG, VA - The Iona University softball team fell to UConn in a pair of games on Sunday at the Liberty Invitational.
GAME ONE: UCONN 5, IONA 3
Starter Samantha Rieb worked around a one-out double in the first to toss a clean first frame, but the Huskies broke through in the second. After the Gaels stranded a pair of runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the first, UConn manufactured a run via a single, ground out, stolen base and another ground out.
The Huskies scored twice in the third, pushing the lead to 3-0. Rieb settled in after that, retiring the side in order in the fourth and fifth frames. Iona threatened in the fifth after Allie Taylor walked and Kaylin Flukey singled, but a line-drive double-play ended the rally.
A run-scoring single chased Rieb with one out in the sixth with the Gaels trailing 4-0. Dani Beckham entered in relief to get the final two outs and strand a runner in scoring position. Iona climbed back into the contest with three runs in the sixth.
Hannah Werth started things with a bunt single, coming around to score after Brianna Bailey singled. Jessica Chilcott doubled home Bailey and Capuano plated Chilcott with a single to make it a one-run contest.
UConn added an insurance run in the seventh and the extra breathing room helped the Huskies close out the Maroon & Gold, despite a two-out single by Werth that brought the tying run to bat.
GAME TWO: UCONN 8, IONA 3
Werth continued her hot hitting in game two, leading things off with a two-bagger. She would move no further than second after the next three Gaels were retired in order. UConn scored three times in the home half with all the damage coming on a bases-clearing double with two outs.
After a scoreless second inning, Iona got on the board in the third. The Gaels loaded the bases to start the inning thanks to singles from Brooke Acker and Werth and a free pass drawn by Haley Weaver. The next two batters were dismissed, but Chilcott doubled to plate a pair of runners and pull Iona within one run of UConn.
Alyssa DeJianne ran into more trouble in the third, surrendering four runs and allowing the Huskies to build a five-run lead. Iona would score once more in the fifth, but UConn matched it in the home half and would cruise to an 8-3 victory to take two from the Maroon & Gold on the final day of play in Virginia.
UP NEXT
Iona heads to Madeira Beach, Florida to take part in the Spring Games. The Gaels face five different opponents in three days from March 10-12. Iona takes on Lafayette and Hartford (March 10), LIU and South Alabama (March 11) and Lehigh (March 12).
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