NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University softball team fell in a pair of games to Canisius, 7-1 and 8-3 on Saturday afternoon at Donald E. Walsh Field.
 
In the fifth inning of game two, senior Jamie Sheeran launched her 40^th career home run. She is the second Gael to reach 40 career home runs, joining Kristen Turner '17 who has a program record 44 home runs. 

GAME ONE: CANISIUS 7, IONA 1

The Golden Griffins struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on a one-out RBI triple and a two-out fielding error by the Gaels for the 2-0 lead.
 
Iona punched back in the bottom of the frame as Guerrero sent the 1-1 pitch deep over the left field wall for her second home run of the season and cutting the deficit to one.
 
Canisius pushed the lead back to two in the fourth on a leadoff single followed by an RBI triple to right center. Iona escaped further trouble with a line out and back-to-back groundouts to end the inning.
 
The Golden Griffins added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI double to right center. Canisius capped the scoring in the seventh, scoring three runs on three hits to bring the final to 7-1.
 
Iona was outhit by Canisius 8-5 in the opening game. Junior Samantha Rieb surrendered three earned runs and struck out four batters in six and a third innings.

GAME TWO: CANISIUS 8, IONA 3

Canisius carried momentum into game two jumping out to a 4-0 lead after three innings of play.
 
Iona punched back in the bottom of the third inning as senior Kayla Haywood and Sheeran reached second and third base with one-out. Sophomore Brooke Acker lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to center field for the first run. After a walk to Guerrero put runners on the corners, senior Kaylin Flukey delivered an RBI double to left field to bring the score to 4-2.
 
The Golden Griffins punched back with two runs on three hits in the fourth inning.

Sheeran led off the bottom of fifth inning by sending the 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for her 40^th career home run and cut the deficit to three.

Canisius capped the scoring in the sixth inning with a two-out two-run double to left center to bring the final to 8-3.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Sheeran's game two home run was her third of the season and 40^th of her collegiate career with the Maroon & Gold. Her two hits in game two was her 11^th multi-hit game of the year.
• Flukey also posted two hits in game two for her fourth multi-hit game this season.
• Acker has reached base safely in the last 11 games. 

UP NEXT

The Gaels conclude the series against the Golden Griffins tomorrow with a noon start at Donald E. Walsh Field.