BUFFALO, NY - The Iona University softball team lost to No. 3 Marist, 2-1, in the First Round of the 2023 MAAC Championship. MAAC Player of the Year Maddie Pleasants hit a two-out, two-run homer in the first, one of two hits for Marist against
Kara Zazzaro, enough to send Iona to the elimination game later this afternoon.
GAME SUMMARY
For the second time in less than a week, Calista Phippen and Kara Zazzaro faced off in the circle. Phippen started strong on Wednesday morning, striking out three in the first frame, working around a two-out walk drawn to Jessica Chilcott.
After walking the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first, Zazzaro retired the next two batters before Pleasants hit a two-run homer to left center to open the scoring. Zazzaro induced a ground ball to finish the first, though the Maroon & Gold trailed early on.
Kayla Haywood earned Iona's first hit of the afternoon leading off the second, but was later thrown out trying to steal second. Phippen would strike out Brooke Acker, her fifth strikeout in the early going, to complete a second clean inning. Zazzaro set down the Red Foxes in order in the home half of the second to bounce back strong after allowing two first-inning runs.
Alivia Lichtner reached first safely on a bunt, but became the second runner cut down trying to steal in as many innings, helping Phippen face the minimum in a second consecutive inning. Phippen would run into some trouble in the fourth inning however, exiting in favor of Kiley Myers after allowing a run on a Haywood sacrifice fly and throwing one pitch to Brianna Bailey. Myers inherited the at-bat from Phippen, walking Bailey to put runners on the corners before getting Acker to pop up to the infield on a 3-2 offering.
Zazzaro would work out of a jam and strand two runners to keep the score at 2-1 and send the game to the fifth inning. Lichtner doubled into left center and represented the tying run with just one out in the frame. She moved up 60 feet on a Hannah Werth groundout but was left at third after Myers struck out Jamie Sheeran.
Iona had one last golden opportunity in the seventh inning after Zazzaro worked hard to leave the bases loaded, striking out the last two batters to keep it a one-run game. Kenadie Gonzalez pinch hit to lead off the seventh and reached safely after being hit by a pitch. Haley Weaver pinch ran and advanced to second after a successful sacrifice bunt by Emma Capuano. Myers bore down, retiring the next two hitters to strand the tying run in scoring position and send Marist to the next round.
UP NEXT
Iona will face the loser of No. 4 Fairfield and No. 5 Siena, being played right now. The winner of the elimination game will face the loser of No. 1 Mount St. Mary's and No. 3 Marist at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11.
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