GREENSBORO, NC — The Iona University softball team capped its weekend at the UNCG Invitational with a 3-2 setback to Tennessee Tech on Sunday morning. The Gaels held the early lead before the Golden Eagles rallied with a big fifth inning at UNCG Softball Stadium.
Junior
Hailey Guerrero homered for the second consecutive game for the Maroon & Gold with first inning dinger. Senior
Kenadie Gonzalez picked up an RBI in the third straight game for the Gaels with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
GAME SUMMARY
Fresh off its first win last night, the Gaels got on the scoreboard early as Guerrero launched a two-out home run to center field for the early 1-0 advantage.
Both pitchers settled in from there as Iona was retired in order the next two innings. Sophomore
Allison Hoppe held the Golden Eagles to just one hit through the first three frames.
Senior
Brianna Bailey led off the top of the fourth inning with double to left center field. Guerrero then was hit by a pitch before junior
Brooke Acker earned a walk to load the bases. Back-to-back strikeouts followed before Gonzalez lined an infield single to take the 2-0 lead.
Tennessee Tech finally got going on offense in the bottom of the fifth inning as a leadoff double followed by a two-run home run quickly knotted the game up. The inning continued with a one-out RBI double to take the 3-2 lead.
Iona looked to answer in the top of the sixth as sophomore
Madison Campeau picked up a one-out pinch hit double to left field. She then advanced to third on a groundout. Gonzalez and junior
Alivia Lichtner followed with back-to-back hit by pitches to load the bases. The Golden Eagles escaped trouble with an inning ending foul out. Iona was then retired in order in the seventh to give Tennessee Tech the 3-2 win.
The Gaels out hit the Golden Eagles 6-5 on the day with six different batters recording a hit for the Maroon & Gold. Hoppe pitched the first four and a third innings for Iona and senior
Samantha Rieb pitched the final inning and a third in relief.
GAME SUMMARY
The Gaels return to the Northeast four a four-game set at Central Connecticut State next weekend. The series against the Blue Devils begins on Friday, February 28 with a doubleheader starting at noon.
