BUFFALO, NY - The Iona University softball team defeated No. 5 Siena in eight innings, 4-1, on Wednesday at Demske Sports Complex in an elimination game in the 2023 MAAC Championship.
Jessica Chilcott drew a bases-loaded walk before
Kaylin Flukey's two-run single gave the Gaels a three-run lead in extra frames.
GAME SUMMARY
Samantha Rieb and Alyssa Eimont started for their respective sides in the first elimination game of the MAAC postseason, putting up zeroes through the first three innings of the contest. Eimont retired eight of the first nine batters she faced, allowing just one hit in her first go-around the Iona batting order; Rieb worked around one-out singles in the first and second innings before settling in and retiring the side in order in the third.
Eimont was the first to crack, though it was a throwing error that allowed the first run of the game to score. After a leadoff walk to begin the fourth, Eimont set down the next two batters before a Kayla Haywood single moved Jamie Sheeran to second base. Brianna Bailey followed with another two-out single, which was knocked down at third. The errant throw after the infield single allowed Sheeran to score, but Haywood was cut down at the plate trying to give the Gaels a two-run lead, ending the inning.
Rieb continued to pitch well, retiring the side in order in the fourth on just five pitches. Ashley Giampolo singled to center to lead off the fifth, ending Rieb's streak of eight consecutive batters retired. A passed ball and a groundout allowed Giampolo to get to third with one out. With the infield drawn in, pinch-hitter Shannon Bonewit hit one sharply to second that was mishandled, bringing home the tying run. Rieb's next pitch hit Sabrina Vargas, putting runners on first and second with just one out, but a strikeout and a weak lineout to short ended Siena's short-lived rally.
Kara Zazzaro entered in relief of Rieb in the sixth, needing just seven pitches to set down the Saints in order. Another 1-2-3 inning for Zazzaro in the seventh sent the game to extras tied at one.
Freshman Brooke Acker started an eighth-inning rally for the Gaels, blooping a single into center before giving way to Haley Weaver as a pinch runner. Emma Capuano laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, moving Weaver to second representing the go-ahead run. With two outs, Hannah Werth registered an infield single and Siena elected to intentionally walk Sheeran to face Chilcott with the bases loaded and two outs. Chilcott made the decision hurt, working a 10-pitch walk that featured four straight foul balls with two strikes to push the go-ahead run across. Flukey followed, hitting the first pitch through the left side to score Sheeran and Werth and pad Iona's extra-innings lead to three runs.
Zazzaro finished a third hitless inning out of the pen, closing the door on Siena's season with a swinging strikeout of Mikala Fletcher.
UP NEXT
Iona awaits the loser of No. 2 Mount St. Mary's and No. 3 Marist (Thursday, May 11 at 11:00 a.m.). The Gaels will face either the Mountaineers or the Red Foxes in the elimination bracket at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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