NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University softball team utilized a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to take game two and split the doubleheader against Rider on Tuesday afternoon. The Broncs took the opener in game one, 7-5 before the Gaels grabbed the 5-4 walk-off win in game two at Donald E. Walsh Field.
Senior
Kayla Haywood led the Maroon & Gold with four hits in the twin bill. Senior
Jamie Sheeran and junior
Brianna Bailey both recorded two runs batted in. Freshman
MJ Nicholson registered the game winning RBI single in game two. Sophomore
Maddy Lowry recorded the win in circle for game two, pitching three shutout innings of relief.
GAME ONE: RIDER 7, IONA 5
Rider jumped out in front with a two-run top of the first inning, capitalizing on three hits and two walks to take the early advantage.
Offense was quiet for the next three innings as both starters settled in. Junior
Samantha Rieb held Rider to just three hits in the next three frames.
The Broncs added three runs in the top of the fifth inning, utilizing two hits and a pair of Iona errors to take a 6-0 lead.
Iona got going in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore
Alivia Lichtner reached base on a hit by pitch. Freshman
Leah Palmer followed with a single to left field in the next at bat. A fly out to right advanced Lichtner to third. The Gaels executed a double steal with runners on first and third with Lichtner crossing the plate for the first run of the inning. Bailey then earned a seven pitch walk to get on base. Haywood delivered an RBI single to right for the second run. Iona looked to execute with another first and third steal as an errant throw down to third by Rider allowed Palmer to score and bring the score to 6-3.
Rider halted momentum in the top of the sixth on a one-out home run to left field.
Junior
Destiny Nardello got Iona started in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out single to left center. After a pop up to first, freshman
Madison Campeau singled to right center as Nardello advanced to third on the play. Bailey stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run single to right center to bring the score to 7-5.
The Gaels looked for a rally in the bottom seventh as sophomore
Brooke Acker led off the inning with a single up the middle. Rider recorded two quick outs before Nicholson and Nardello reached on back-to-back hit by pitches to load the bases. Palmer lifted a shallow line drive to left field, but the Broncs read the ball perfectly to secure the final out and take game one.
GAME TWO: IONA 5, RIDER 4
Iona struck first in game two as Acker recorded a double to right field in the bottom of the first inning. A misplay at short on a ground ball off the bat of sophomore
Hailey Guerrero allowed Acker to score for the 1-0 lead.
Rider answered in the top of the second on a two-run single to left center with one out to take the 2-1 lead.
The Gaels looked to score in the second with runners on the corners, but the Broncs escaped trouble with a ground out. Guerrero roped a one-out triple to left center for Iona in the bottom of the third. Sheeran drove her in with a sacrifice fly to left field to knot the game up at 2-2.
A two-run single up the middle with two outs gave the visiting Broncs back the lead, 4-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Iona looked to punch back in the bottom of the inning with two outs and the bases loaded, but Rider got the fielder's choice out at second to end the inning.
The scoring would halt over the next two frames before Iona got down to its final plate appearances in the seventh. Haywood recorded a one-out single to left center to start the rally. Acker followed with a single to left field as Haywood advanced to third. Guerrero recorded the RBI fielder's choice as the Broncs looked to turn a double play, getting the lead runner at second base. Down to a 0-2 count with two outs, Sheeran delivered an RBI triple to right field to tie the game up. Nicholson was next up and lifted the 1-1 offering over the right fielder's head for the walk-off RBI single and 5-4 win for the Gaels.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Haywood recorded two hits in both games for Iona, pushing her season total to 12 multi-hit games. She has registered a hit in each of the last eight games.
- Bailey's two RBI game one was her first multi-RBI performance this year.
- Sheeran recorded her team-leading fifth multi-RBI game after driving in a pair of runs in game two.
- Rieb tied her season-high with five strikeouts in the game one setback.
- Sophomore Dani Beckham made her first appearance of the season, pitching two innings of relief in game one.
- Lowry logged her seventh scoreless outing of the season, after three shutout innings of relief in game two to secure her second win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Gaels look for the fourth series win of the season in tomorrow's series finale. Iona and Rider square off with a noon start at Donald E. Walsh Field.
