GREENSBORO, NC — The Iona University softball team earned its first win of the season on Saturday night, defeating Towson 15-9 on day two of the UNCG Invitational. The Maroon & Gold offense erupted for 16 hits as all nine batters in the order contributed a hit in the victory over the Tigers at UNCG Softball Stadium.
The two-three-and four spots of the Iona lineup led the charge after a delayed start as the last game of the day. Senior
Brianna Bailey and juniors
Hailey Guerrero and
Brooke Acker all recorded three hits and combined to drive in 12 runs for the Gaels. Junior
Alivia Lichtner also drove in a run and senior
Kenadie Gonzalez capped the scoring with a home run in the seventh.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona wasted little time as the designated away team with the Tigers coming right from playing a three-hour contest against George Washington. Bailey got things going with a one-out single through the right side. Guerrero followed that up with a home run over the centerfield wall for the 2-0 Iona lead.
After senior
Samantha Rieb retired the side in the bottom of the first, Lichtner picked up a one-out single to keep the Gaels rolling. Junior
Brianna Fischer followed suit with a double to the gap in right center. Junior
Hannah Werth earned an eight pitch walk to load the bases. Bailey drove in the first run of the inning on an RBI single through the left side. Towson tallied the second out of the frame on a strikeout. Acker then laced the 1-2 pitch up the middle to score two more runs. She then stole second base to put a pair of runners in scoring position once again. Bailey would cross the dish on a passed ball for the 6-0 lead.
Towson answered in the bottom of the second inning on a one-out two-run double to right center.
Iona brushed it off in the next half inning as rookie
Sara Piña led off the frame with a double to right center before advancing to third on a flyout. She would score on a fielder's choice RBI sacrifice bunt by Lichtner. Fischer then earned a four-pitch walk before a double steal with Lichtner to get in scoring position. After a strikeout, Bailey swung at the 2-0 offering and picked up a two-run single to bring the score to 9-2.
The Tigers responded with a big bottom half of the third inning with five runs on four hits including a grand slam to cut the deficit down to two. Both sides were then held off the score board in the fourth with the Gaels picking up a big inning ending double play.
Iona then capitalized on three Towson errors to load the bases in the top of the fifth. Guerrero delivered a two-run single to right center before Acker lifted a sacrifice fly to take a 12-7 lead. The Gaels defense came up big once again in the bottom of the inning to strand three runners on base to end the inning.
The Gaels tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Bailey and a sacrifice bunt RBI from Guerrero. Back-to-back home runs from Towson followed in the next half inning to continue the scoring. Iona capped the scoring in the seventh on a one-out home run from Gonzalez before Rieb retired the side in the bottom of the seventh for the complete game and first win of the season.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Guerrero picked up her third three-hit game as a member of the Maroon & Gold. Her first inning bomb was her ninth home run as a Gael and her five runs batted in were a new career high.
- Bailey posted the first three-hit showing of her career and tallied a career-high three runs scored and three runs batted in.
- Acker recorded the second three-hit game of her career and registered a career-high three runs batted in.
- Piña posted her first multi-hit performance in her fifth start for the Maroon & Gold.
- Gonzalez's solo shot in the seventh was her fourth home run as a Gael.
- Rieb earned her 25th career win in the circle for Iona and it was the 19th complete game effort of her career.
UP NEXT
The Gaels have a quick turnaround tomorrow with a 10 a.m. matchup against Tennessee Tech to close out the two-week opening stretch down south.
