BOILING SPRINGS, NC — The Iona University softball team concluded the Red & Black Classic on Sunday afternoon, with a 10-7 setback to Sacred Heart at Brinkley Softball Stadium. The Gaels held a three-run advantage after the first inning before the Pioneers rally late to take the matchup.
 
The two teams are new Metro Atlantic Athletic conference counterparts but aren't scheduled to play in the 26-game MAAC slate as the conference has 13 teams, so today's contest was a non-conference game.
 
Rookie duo Marylou Piazza and Sara Piña drove in a pair of runs for the Maroon & Gold. Senior Kenadie Gonzalez and sophomore Madison Campeau also registered an RBI on the day.

GAME SUMMARY

Sacred Heart broke open the scoring in the top of the first inning with a one-out RBI double to left center. After a hit by pitch, Iona secured the second out on a pop out. But the Pioneers extended the lead with a bases clearing three-run home run to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Iona was patient at the plate in the bottom of the first inning as juniors Hannah Werth, Hailey Guerrero and Brooke Acker all earned walks to load the bases. Gonzalez and Campeau followed with two RBI walks to score the first two runs for the Gaels. After a pop out, Piazza stepped to the dish and lined a single up the middle to drive in Acker and Gonzalez to tie the game at 4-4. Piña then roped a two-run double to right field to give Iona the two run lead. She then advanced all the way home on two wild pitches to give the Gaels a 7-4 lead.
 
Offense slowed from both sides the next two innings as each team stranded just one base runner. Sacred Heart punched back in the top of the fourth on a one-out two-run double down the left field line to make it a one run ball game. 
 
The Pioneers took the 8-7 lead in the top of the fifth inning with a one-out two-run single through the right side. Iona looked to answer in the bottom of the frame as senior Brianna Bailey reached on a two-out single up the middle and Piazza picked up a walk but Sacred Heart evaded trouble with an inning ending pop out.
 
Sacred Heart added insurance runs in the top of the sixth with a two-out 2 RBI double to jump ahead 10-7. After a one-two-three bottom of the sixth, Acker opened the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff triple for the Gaels, but the Pioneers escaped trouble with a strikeout and game ending double play to take the non-conference tilt.
 
Rookie Nadia Andarowski made the start for the Gaels. Fellow first-year Hadley Donnelly made her Iona debut, surrendering two runs and striking out two batters in three and a third innings pitched. Sophomore Allison Hoppe pitched the final three innings for the Maroon & Gold, striking out a season-high four batters.

UP NEXT

Iona returns down to North Carolina next weekend for the UNCG Invitational. The Gaels open the round robin tournament on Friday with games against Towson and UNC Greensboro at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from UNCG Softball Stadium.