NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University softball team earned a 9-3 victory over Canisius in the series finale at Donald E. Walsh Field on Sunday afternoon. The Gaels bounced back to avoid the series sweep and improved to 10-5 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
 
Sophomores Hailey Guerrero and Brooke Acker along with freshman MJ Nicholson all registered two hits for the Maroon & Gold. Senior Jamie Sheeran drove in a team-high two runs. Junior Samantha Rieb pitched the complete game for her 10^th win of the season.

GAME SUMMARY

After a scoreless opening inning, the Golden Griffins pounced with two out hitting in the second with three hits including a two-run single to take the early lead once again.
 
Iona got going in the third as senior Emma Capuano reached base on a one-out walk. Senior Kayla Haywood then reached on a throwing error that allowed her and Capuano to get into scoring position. Sheeran stepped to the dish and roped a hard two-RBI single to left center to tie the game up. Nicholson followed with a hard single up the middle. After a Canisius pitching change, Acker went first pitch swinging for an RBI single up the middle for the lead. The Gaels final run came on another Canisius throwing error this time at as Nicholson scored all the way from second to bring the score to 4-2.
 
The senior duo of Capuano and Haywood reached base with one-out again in the fourth on a walk and fielder's choice and error at second. Sheeran walked to load the bases. A wild pitch and a throwing error at the plate allowed both Capuano and Haywood to score and give the Gaels a four-run lead. Guerrero roped a ground rule RBI double to left center to bring the advantage to 7-2.
 
Sophomore Brianna Bailey began the fifth inning with a double to the game in right center before advancing to third on a groundout. Capuano lined an RBI single to extend the Iona lead.
 
Canisius grabbed its final run in the top of the sixth on an RBI ground out.
 
The Gaels opened the bottom of the sixth with Nicholson, Guerrero and Acker all hitting singles to load the bases. After a fielder's choice out at the plate, Bailey lifted a deep fly ball to center field for the RBI sacrifice fly to bring the final to 9-3.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Acker's two-hit game was her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
• Guerrero recorded her fourth multi-hit game on the year.
• Nicholson tallied a pair of hits for the third time this season.
• Sheeran registered her sixth multi-RBI game and leads the team with 18 runs batted in.
• Rieb pitched her eighth complete game of the season for her 10^th win. She surrendered three runs while striking out four.

UP NEXT

Iona will take on Columbia in mid-week action on Wednesday, April 17 at Columbia Softball Stadium. The non-conference matchup will air on ESPN+.