GREENSBORO, NC — The Iona University softball team began its second consecutive weekend down in North Carolina with two games at the UNC Greensboro Invitational. The Gaels opened the preseason tournament with a 13-2 defeat to George Washington before home run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Senior Brianna Bailey led the Maroon & Gold in game one with two doubles and an RBI. Junior Brooke Acker also picked up an RBI single against the Revolutionaries. Senior Kenadie Gonzalez recorded an RBI base knock in game two. Junior Brianna Fischer recorded her first home run as a member of the Maroon & Gold with a two-run shot against the Spartans.

GAME ONE: GEORGE WASHINGTON 13, IONA 2

The Revolutionaries broke open the scoring in the top of the second inning on a one-out two run single and a grand slam to take control of the game. George Washington got two more in the top of the third inning.

Fischer got Iona's first hit of the game in the bottom half of the third inning with a one-out base knock to shortstop. She advanced to second on a groundout. Bailey then went first pitch swinging with a double to the gap in right center to score Fischer for the first run of the inning. Acker followed that up going after the first pitch and lining an RBI single up the middle to score Bailey.
 
George Washington capped the scoring with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Iona got three base runners on the final two innings as first-year Marylou Piazza earned a walk and classmate Jovanna Donaruma singled to right in the fourth. Bailey picked up her second double in the fifth inning.
 
Senior Samantha Rieb started the game for Iona and rookies Hadley Donnelly and Nadia Andarowski pitched in relief.

GAME TWO: UNC GREENSBORO 5, IONA 3

UNC Greensboro stuck first with an RBI groundout in the first inning. The Gaels were held to just one base runner in the first two frames.

Iona finally got going in the third inning as junior Alivia Lichtner led off the frame with a hit by pitch. After a foul out, Lichtner swiped second base to move into scoring position. A strikeout followed before Bailey extended the inning with a hit by pitch. Acker then walked to load up the bases for the Gaels. Gonzalez stepped to the plate and roped an infield single to drive in the first Iona run and knotted the game 1-1. UNC Greensboro escaped further trouble with an inning ending fly out to centerfield.
 
Sophomore Allison Hoppe evaded trouble in the bottom of the third as the Spartans threatened with runners on the corners with two outs by inducing the inning ending fly out.
 
Piazza recorded a one-out single in the fourth inning before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Lichtner. Fischer then stepped to the plate and lifted the 2-2 offering down the left field line clearing the fence to give the Gaels the 3-1 lead.
 
UNC Greensboro cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 3-2. Iona threatened with a runner on second in the fifth but were unable to capitalize.

The Spartans tied the game up in the next half inning on a two-out home run to center field. Once again Iona had runners in scoring position in the sixth inning with runners on the corners, but UNC Greensboro escaped with a groundout to the pitcher.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the sixth inning before Iona was retired in order at the top of the seventh. UNC Greensboro got the winning run to third base in the bottom of the seventh before walking the game off with a home run to center field.

Iona was outhit nine to five in the second game. Hoppe pitched the complete game for the Gaels, scattering the nine hits with one walk to go with three strikeouts.

UP NEXT

Iona continues its weekend at the UNCG Invitational tomorrow with a 6 p.m. tilt against Towson.