RALEIGH, N.C.— The Iona University softball team dropped a pair of games to UAlbany and Cleveland State on Sunday morning to cap the season opening weekend at the Wolfpack Classic.
GAME ONE: UALBANY 10, IONA 7
Following last night's opening win over the Great Danes, Iona got started early as senior
Kayla Haywood led off the game with a home run to left center. The Gaels looked to tack on more runs loading up the bases with two outs but UAlbany got a groundout to end the frame.
The Great Danes recorded four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead.
Iona punched right back in the next half inning as freshman
Madison Campeau led off the frame with a walk. She advanced to second via a groundout and then scored on an RBI double to centerfield by Haywood. Senior
Emma Capuano walked to give Iona two runners on and one-out. Sophomore
Hailey Guerrero went first pitch swinging for a three-run bomb over to right center for the 5-4 lead.
UAlbany responded in the bottom of the second with a one-out two-run double down the right field line to regain the lead, 6-5.
After a scoreless third, senior
Jamie Sheeran notched a one-out single to right field. She advanced to second on a ground out to get in scoring position. Senior
Kaylin Flukey connected on an RBI single to second base to drive in Sheeran and tie the game at 6-6.
The Great Danes reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly to right field. Sheeran led off the top of the sixth with a double in the gap to left center. She advanced to third on a sac fly to right and would come around to score as Flukey reached on an error at short to knot the game at 7-7. Iona looked to jump ahead as Campeau singled up the middle and pinch runner, freshman
Leah Palmer tried to go from first to home but UAlbany made the throw at the plate to end the inning.
UAlbany utilized three runs on four hits to grab the 10-7 lead. The Gaels looked for a late rally in the top of the seventh with back-to-back walks but were halted by a double play and strikeout ended the game.
GAME TWO: CLEVELAND STATE 3, IONA 1
Cleveland State broke open the scoring in the bottom of the third inning with a one-out RBI single to left field.
Iona was held to just one hit through the first three innings. Sheeran stepped to the plate to lead off the top of the fourth and lined the 1-0 offering over the wall in left center to tie the game.
The Vikings loaded the basses with one-out in the bottom of the fourth and scored runs in back-to-back plate appearances for the 3-1 lead.
The Gaels were held to just one hit over the final three innings, a two-out single up the middle in the top of the sixth from Sheeran as Cleveland State earned the 3-1 win in the finale.
UP NEXT
The Gaels head to South Carolina next weekend for the Chanticleer Showdown hosted by Coastal Carolina. Iona begins the tournament on Friday, March 1 with two games against Michigan State and Oakland at Noon and 2:30 p.m. held at St. John Stadium.
