BUFFALO, NY — The Iona University softball team rallied in game two to split its Saturday doubleheader at Canisius. The Golden Griffins took game one by a score of 2-1 and looked to earn the sweep before the Gaels erased a four-run deficit for an 8-5 win at Demske Sports Complex.
Junior
Hailey Guerrero recorded the lone run batted in and game one and recorded a solo home run in game two. Junior
Brooke Acker recorded three runs batted in with a sacrifice fly and two-run home run in game two. Rookie
Caelin Kosvitch also drove in two runs on her first career triple in the second contest.
GAME ONE: CANISIUS 2, IONA 1
It was a pitching dual in the weekend opener as sophomore
Allison Hoppe fanned six and issued just four hits through the first five frames. Olivia Manchester for Canisius held the Gaels hitless through the first five innings.
Iona finally got momentum rolling in the top half of the sixth as senior
Brianna Bailey led off the frame with a walk. After a pop out bunt, junior
Brianna Fischer recorded the team's first hit with a single down the left field line. Guerrero then stepped to the plate and lined a single to right center to score pinch runner sophomore
Leah Palmer from second for the 1-0 lead. The Golden Griffins escaped further trouble with two ground outs to end the inning.
Canisius answered in the bottom half of the inning with a one-out walk followed by an RBI double to knot the game up. Iona picked up the second out on a pop out to second. Canisius then scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single to left field to jump ahead 2-1. Manchester retired the side in order in the seventh to take the opener.
GAME TWO: IONA 8, CANISIUS 5
Momentum carried over into game two for the home team with a three-run opening inning on an RBI double and two-run home run. The Golden Griffins added to the tally in the third with an RBI single to right center.
Iona answered in the fourth as Guerrero went first pitch hunting and launched her 11
th home run of the season over the left field wall. Acker followed immediately with a double to right center. Palmer came on to pinch run again and slid to third on a sacrifice bunt. Bailey then worked a four pitch walk before junior
Alivia Lichtner dropped the perfect RBI squeeze bunt to cut the deficit to two. Kosvitch knotted the game up at 4-4 with a two-RBI triple to right center.
The Gaels continued to roll in the fifth as Fischer led off the inning with a bunt single then proceeded to steal second and third. Guerrero then earned a walk and swiped second to put two runners in scoring position. Acker brought home the go-ahead run home on a sacrifice fly. A throwing error then allowed Guerrero to score from third and give Iona the 6-4 lead.
Canisius clawed one run back in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out RBI single to center field. Rookie
Nadia Andarowski settled back in the next inning, retiring the side in order with her fifth and sixth strikeouts of the game.
Guerrero kicked off the final inning with a one-out double down the left field line. Acker then went first pitch swinging and connected on her fifth home run of the season over the left field fence to bring the score to 8-5.
The Golden Griffins threatened with runners on first and second with two outs but the defense picked up Hoppe with the out and third to end the game.
Andarowski recorded her fourth straight win for the Maroon & Gold. Hoppe recorded her second career save.
Acker recorded her 11
th multi-hit and ninth multi-RBI game of the season in game two. Guerrero recorded her ninth multi-hit showing on the year. Kosvitch picked up her second two-RBI game of the season.
UP NEXT
The Gaels look for the series win tomorrow at noon for the weekend finale against the Golden Griffins.
