NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University softball team rallied late to earn a 4-3 victory over Manhattan in extra innings on Saturday. Sophomore
Hailey Guerrero delivered the game winning hit at Donald E. Walsh for the second straight game, this time it was a ninth inning RBI single to secure the series sweep over the Jaspers.
The Gaels improve to 5-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with the victory. Senior
Jamie Sheeran led the Maroon & Gold's offense with a 3-for-5 afternoon at the plate. Senior
Kayla Haywood added two hits and top five batters contributed eight of the team's nine hits. Junior
Samantha Rieb earned the win in the circle, pitching the final five innings for Iona.
GAME SUMMARY
Offense was a relatively quiet through the first three and a half innings as Iona recorded just one hit and stranded two runners while Manhattan registered two hits and stranded three.
The Gaels got a leadoff base knock from sophomore
Hannah Werth to lead off the bottom of the third. Haywood then delivered a one-out single to center field for two runners on base. Freshman
Madison Campeau pinch ran for Werth and advanced to third base on a flyout by sophomore
Brooke Acker down the right field line. Sheeran gave Iona the 1-0 on an RBI single to center field in the next at bat.
Manhattan answered in the next half inning with a two-out double to center field to tie things up at 1-1.
The Jaspers continued to attack in the fifth as a leadoff double and sacrifice bunt put the go-ahead run on third. A pitch-out attempt by the Iona led to a stolen base from Manhattan to take over the lead. The inning continued with a two-out RBI double to right center for the 2-1 advantage.
Iona looked to rally in the sixth inning as freshman
MJ Nicholson came in to pinch hit with one out and worked a six-pitch walk. Freshman
Leah Palmer reentered the game for Nicholson and then stole second base. A single by senior
Emma Capuano put runners on the corners with two outs. Capuano advanced into scoring position on a steal. Haywood delivered the 2-2 offering into the gap in left center to tie the game up 3-3.
The Gaels looked to get the winning run in the seventh as Sheeran led off the frame with a single and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and ground out. The Jaspers escaped trouble by getting a lineout to center field to push the game to extra innings.
Manhattan worked runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth inning. Rieb escaped trouble with a big strikeout to end the inning.
Iona was retired in order in the bottom half of the eighth inning and Manhattan was held to a two-out single in the top of the ninth.
Haywood led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and Acker followed with a single up the middle. A fielder's choice allowed Sheeran to reach first base and Haywood to advance to third base for the first out off the inning. Guerrero stepped to the plate after yesterday's eighth inning heroics. She lined a hard single back to the outstretched arm of the pitcher as Haywood scored from third to secure the 4-3 walk-off win.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- The Gaels secured the first series sweep of the season with the win.
- Iona improved to 3-0 in extra inning contests for the year.
- Sheeran recorded her eighth multi-hit game and third three-hit showing of the season. She has secured a hit in eight straight games.
- Haywood posted her eighth multi-hit game and drove in two runs for the third time this year.
- Guerrero has registered a hit in seven straight contests.
- Sophomore Maddy Lowry pitched the first four innings, surrendering just one run on four hits.
- Rieb secured her third win of the weekend, totaling 14 innings against the Jaspers and giving up just four earned runs.
UP NEXT
The Gaels head back to Connecticut next weekend for a weekend series against Quinnipiac. The series begins on Saturday, April 6 with a doubleheader at Quinnipiac Softball Field beginning at noon.
