BOILING SPRINGS, NC — The Iona University softball team kicked off its 2025 camp on Thursday afternoon, dropping a 8-2 decision to Gardner-Webb on Thursday afternoon.
 
Junior Brooke Acker led the Maroon & Gold with two hits on the day including her second career home run in the third inning. Sophomore Madison Campeau drove in the first run of the season on a two-out double in the second frame. 

GAME SUMMARY

Iona opened the season strong with a pair of hits in the opening frame with base knocks from juniors Hailey Guerrero and Acker but were unable to advance a runner into scoring position. Gardner-Webb opened the scoring with a two-out RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Senior. Brianna Bailey picked up a two-out single through the left side in the top of the second inning and then swiped second base on a steal. Campeau then lined an RBI double to the gap in right center to score Bailey and knot the score up at 1-1.
 
Timely two-out hitting came through once again in the third as Acker hit a two-out homer over the left field fence to give Iona the 2-1 lead. The lead was short lived as the Bulldogs answered with five runs on three hits and an Iona error in the bottom half of the third inning.
 
Gardner-Webb capped the scoring with runs in the fourth and sixth innings to bring the final to 8-2.
 
Senior Samantha Rieb started the opening game for the Gaels, surrendering five earned runs and striking out three in three and a third innings pitched. Sophomore Allison Hoppe made her Maroon & Gold debut, going the final two and two thirds, yielding just one run while striking out one batter.

UP NEXT

The Gaels stay in Boiling Springs for the Red & Black Classic with five games slated for this weekend. First up, is a doubleheader on Friday, February 14 against Robert Morris at 10 a.m. before squaring off against Gardner-Webb at 3 p.m. from Brinkley Softball Stadium.