NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University softball team swept Siena on Saturday afternoon, with a 3-1 game one victory before a late rally in game two to secure a 6-4 win at Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval. The Maroon & Gold improve to 5-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
Juniors
Brianna Fischer and
Hailey Guerrero both launched home runs in the game one win. Senior
Kenadie Gonzalez recorded a three-run blast in game two. First-year
Sara Piña hit the go-ahead two-RBI single in the sixth inning of game two for the Gaels. Sophomore
Allison Hoppe held Siena to just three hits in the final six innings for the game one win in the circle. Senior
Samantha Rieb struck out three batters in the game two start.
GAME ONE: IONA 3, SIENA 1
The visiting Saints used one-out hitting in the top of the first as a single and walk put runners in scoring position. A first pitch swing sent the ball into right center for an RBI single and a 1-0 lead. With runners at the corners, Hoppe picked up a strikeout and lineout to end the frame.
Iona's offense was slow to start in game one, retiring in order the first two frames. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning and advanced to third on a groundout and sacrifice bunt. Siena was able to evade trouble with an inning ending ground out to short.
The Gaels finally answered in the bottom of the fourth as Fischer led off the frame and smashed the 2-1 offering down the left field line and over the wall to knot the game up at 1-1.
Iona would strike again in the fifth inning as Piña recorded a leadoff infield single. Gonzalez then was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Junior
Alivia Lichtner stepped to the plate and was victorious in a nine-pitch at bat with an RBI single to left field to score Piña and give the Gaels a 2-1 lead.
Guerrero brought the score to 3-1 after a leadoff home run down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth inning. Siena made one final rally attempt in the top of the seventh with runners on second and third with one-out. The Gaels sealed the game on a line out to senior
Brianna Bailey who flipped the ball to second for the game ending double play.
GAME TWO: IONA 6, SIENA 4
Pitching set the tone to start game two as both sides combined for four hits and stranded five base runners. Rieb struck out two batters in the first four frames and the Gaels turned another inning ending double play in the second inning.
The Gaels settled back in at the dish in the bottom half of the fourth as junior
Brooke Acker recorded a one-out single to right center. Sophomore
Leah Palmer would come on as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a bunt single from Bailey. After an infield fly was called for the second out, Gonzalez stepped into the batter's box and went first pitch swinging and launched a three-run shot down the left field line and over the wall for the 3-0 lead.
Siena punched back in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits to take a 4-3 lead late.
Iona was quick to answer as Guerrero led off the bottom of the inning with a single to right field and then stole second base. Another single by Acker put runners on first and third with no outs. After a strikeout, rookie
Caelin Kosvitch would pinch run at first base and immediately stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Piña then delivered the go-ahead hit with a two-RBI single up the middle. The inning continued as Gonzalez was hit by another pitch and Lichtner recorded an infield single. Another infield fly was called for the second out. Junior
Hannah Werth scored the final run of the game with an RBI infield single to shortstop to bring the score to 6-4.
The Saints looked to rally once again in the seventh with the leadoff batter reaching on a hit by pitch. Rieb then picked up a strikeout and the defense nabbed the lead runner at second on a ground out before a ground out back to the circle sealed the 6-4 win.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Fischer recorded her second home run as a member of the Maroon & Gold with her solo shot in game one.
- Guerrero registered her 10th home run of the season in game one for the Gaels.
- Gonzalez tied her career-high with three runs batted in for a third time in her career on a three-run home run. She also recorded a three-run shot in wins over Drexel on February 25, 2023, and Hartford on March 10, 2023. Gonzalez also reached base on four hit by pitches in the twin bill to extend her MAAC lead to 12 on the year.
- Acker tallied her seventh multi-hit game of the season in game two.
- Piña recorded third multi-hit game and fourth multi-RBI game on the year in the second game of the day.
UP NEXT
The Gaels cap the weekend series against the Saints tomorrow with a noon start from Walsh Field.
