FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Iona University softball team opened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Friday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader at Fairfield. The Gaels utilized 15 hits to take the opener 9-4 before Fairfield battled back to take game two, 5-2.
Senior
Jamie Sheeran went 5-for-6 with three runs scored and one run batted in. Sophomore
Hailey Guerrero went 4-for-5 with three runs batted in and three runs scored. Sophomore
Brooke Acker also posted four hits in the two games against the Stags.
GAME ONE: IONA 9, FAIRFIELD 4
Iona got going offensively in the second inning as Guerrero singled to left field to start the frame. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and groundout. Sophomore
Hannah Werth walked to get runners on the corners with two outs. Senior
Emma Capuano stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run double to left center for the early lead.
The Gaels continued to roll in the third as Sheeran led off the inning with a single through the left side. Senior
Kaylin Flukey then walked to put two runners on base. Guerrero laid down a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate, a missed throw down to first base allowed Sheeran to score. From second. Sophomore
Alivia Lichtner lined a single to second base for the second run. Werth tacked on the third run on an RBI fielder's choice. She then stole second base with an error scoring Lichtner from third. Senior
Kayla Haywood tacked on the fifth run of the inning with an RBI single to right field for the 7-0 Iona lead.
Fairfield got on the board in the bottom half of the inning scoring two runs on three hits.
Iona added another run in the sixth as Guerrero roped a one-out double down the left field line to score Sheeran from first base. The Gaels final run came on a one-out double to right center by Acker in the seventh inning.
Fairfield scored the final run of the game with a two-out single to left field. Another single followed as the Stags looked for some late life but junior
Samantha Rieb got a pop out to shortstop to end the game.
Rieb went all seven innings in the circle for Iona, surrendering just three earned runs while striking out five batters to just one walk. Sheeran led the Maroon & Gold offense with four hits. Acker, Guerrero and Haywood all recorded three hits for the Gaels.
GAME TWO: FAIRFIELD 5, IONA 2
Momentum carried over for Iona in game two as Sheeran started the second inning with a walk. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Flukey. Guerrero continued her strong day at the plate with a single down the left field line to score Sheeran and give the Gaels a 1-0 lead.
Fairfield was quick to answer, tying the game up in the bottom half of the inning on a leadoff home run to left field.
The Stags took hold of the lead in the third inning with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single up the middle for the 3-1 advantage.
Iona's offense was held in check for the next few innings before a one-out single to right field by Acker in the sixth started things back up. She then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sheeran then lined a double into center field to cut the deficit to one. She would get to third on a groundout, but Fairfield escaped trouble with a pop up to end the inning.
Fairfield extended the lead in the bottom of the frame, utilizing four hits to score runs to bring the final score to 5-2.
The Gaels were held to just three hits in the second game while Fairfield recorded nine hits.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Sheeran's four hits in game one was a new career single game high. It was her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
- Acker has recorded a hit in each of the last five games for the Gaels including three multi-hit contests.
- Guerrero went 3-of-3 in game one, a new career best. She has tallied two multi-hit games this year.
- Haywood's 3-for-4 performance in game one was the second time this season she recorded three hits. She also has recorded a run in four of the last five games for Iona.
- Rieb went a season-high seven innings in game one. She registered five strikeouts for the third time this season.
UP NEXT
Iona will have Saturday off due to inclement weather expected to hit the area. The Gaels and Stags conclude the series on Sunday with a noon first pitch from Alumni Softball Field.
