POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Iona University softball team battled back from a 4-2 defeat to four-seed Canisius in the opening round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship with a 3-2 win over three-seed Rider on Wednesday afternoon. The Gaels advance to Thursday afternoon at Gartland Field against the loser of two-seed Niagara and six-seed Siena.
 
Senior Kayla Haywood led the Gaels in game one with two hits and a run batted in against the Golden Griffins. Senior Jamie Sheeran went 2-for-4 with a home run and RBI single in game two. Sophomore Hailey Guerrero also hit a solo home run against the Broncs. Junior Samantha Rieb recorded the complete game victory in the circle for the Gaels in game two.

GAME ONE: No. 4 CANISIUS 4, No. 5 IONA 2

Canisius got started with a one-out double to center field in the bottom of the first inning. After a pop out, a bloop RBI single to center field brought in the first run of the game.
 
Iona looked to respond in the top of the second as junior Brianna Bailey recorded a one-out single to left field. MJ Nicholson then walked to give the Gaels two runners on base. Canisius got out of the inning on a ground out to the pitcher.
 
Canisius got runners on second and third with no outs and used a squeeze bunt to score the first run of the bottom of the fourth inning. The Golden Griffins added another run on a slide under the tag at home after a strikeout putout at first base to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Iona had a good start in the fifth inning as Nicholson led off the frame with a walk. After a fielder's choice to nab the lead runner, senior Emma Capuano lined a single through the left side to put two runners on. The Golden Griffins recorded back-to-back fly outs to escape the inning.
 
A one-out home run extended the Canisius lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Down to the final three outs in the seventh, Nicholson led off the inning with a single to right field. Werth followed with a single to left center for two runners on. After a strikeout, Haywood lined an RBI single to center for the first Iona run. A walk to Sheeran loaded the bases for the Gaels. Canisius got the second out of the inning on a strikeout swinging. Sophomore Brooke Acker drew an RBI walk cut the deficit to two. The Golden Griffins secured the 4-2 win on a game-ending pop out to shortstop.
 
Iona outhit Canisius, 8-4 for the game. Rieb surrendered two earned runs in four and a third innings while striking out four. Senior Alyssa DeJianne pitched a hitless final inning and two thirds in relief for the Gaels. 

GAME TWO: No. 5 IONA 3, No. 3 RIDER 2

The first elimination game of the tournament was a pitcher's duel through the first three frames as Rieb and Anna-Marie Groskritz for Rider didn't let up a hit.
 
Sheeran broke open the hitting and scoring in the top of the fourth inning with a one-out solo home run to left field for the first run of the inning. After a ground out to short, sophomore Hailey Guerrero stepped to the plate and launched a home run deep over the left field wall for the 2-0 advantage.
 
The offense continued for Iona in the top of the fifth on big two-out hitting as Capuano got things going with a single to center field. Haywood followed by earning a walk to put two runners on for the Gaels. Sheeran stepped to the dish and lined an RBI single to center to score Capuano and take the 3-0 lead.
 
Rieb held the Broncs hitless till a one-out single down the right field line in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Down to the final outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Rider opened the inning with a walk and ground out to third to get a runner on second base. An RBI single up the middle brought in their first run of the game. After a fielder's choice for the second out, an RBI double to the gap made it a one-score game. Iona secured the final out and the 3-2 win with a ground out to shortstop.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Haywood's two-hit game against Canisius was her 15^th multi-hit game of the season.
• Acker's RBI walk in game one was her 13^th of the season.
• Sheeran's 2-for-4 afternoon with two RBI was her 17^th multi-hit and 14 multi-RBI games of the season. She launched her 11^th home run of the season and the 48^th of her career.
• Guerrero's home run in game two was her eighth of the year and her fourth home run in the last five games.
• Rieb logged 11.1 innings on Wednesday afternoon, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven batters.   

UP NEXT

The Gaels continue the MAAC Championship tomorrow afternoon with an elimination matchup against either two-seed Niagara or six-seed Siena. First-pitch was moved up to avoid impending weather and is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Gartland Field.