JERSEY CITY,  NJ — The Iona University softball team extended its winning streak to seven consecutive games with a doubleheader sweep at Saint Peter's on Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore Allison Hoppe retired all 18 batters she faced in the 8-0 opening win for her first career perfect game. The Gaels then downed the Peacocks 3-0 in the second game to secure the sweep.
 
Hoppe spun the first perfect game for the Maroon & Gold since Sarah Jackson '12 threw a five-inning perfect game over Saint Peter's back on May 5, 2010. Hoppe needed just 70 pitches and fanned seven batters in the six-inning perfect game. Rookie Nadia Andarowski recorded her second career shutout in game two.
 
Offensively, the Maroon & Gold recorded 20 hits in the two games and set a single-game program record eight steals in game one. Junior Alivia Lichtner went 5-for-6 with two RBIs and three runs scored in the two games. Junior Brianna Fischer went 5-for-8 with a home run, double and a triple and five runs batted in. 

GAME ONE: IONA 8, SAINT PETER'S 0 (6 Inn.)

Iona opened the game with a one-out single to left field courtesy of junior Hannah Werth. She then advanced to third on a ground out to shortstop. Junior Brooke Acker stepped up to the plate and lined an RBI single to left field for the early 1-0 lead. The Gaels looked to tack on more as rookie Sara Piña followed with another single but the Peacocks escaped trouble with a line out to right field.

The Gaels kept things rolling in the fourth inning as senior Brianna Bailey led off the inning reaching on a fielding error. Lichtner then lined an RBI single into center field to score Bailey from second for the second run of the game. Lichtner then proceeded to steal second and third. Rookie Jovanna Donaruma then earned a walk and swiped second base on a steal. Fischer stepped to the plate and smoked a three-run home run over the wall in right center for the 5-0 lead.
 
Iona added to its lead in the top of the sixth as junior Hailey Guerrero recorded a one-out infield single then advanced to second on a steal. Acker then reached on a fielding error. Piña hit an RBI single to right field to score the first run of the inning. Bailey then plated an RBI single to shortstop to score one run and then got into a rundown between first and second allowing the third run of the frame to cross the plate for an 8-0 Iona lead.
 
Hoppe was cruising through the first five innings, securing seven fly outs and three ground outs while striking out five batters. In the final frame, she issued a ground out for the first out and then struck out the final two batters for the perfect game.

GAME TWO: IONA 3, SAINT PETER'S 0

Offense was slow to start game two as Saint Peter's was the lone team to record a hit in the first two frames. Iona's offense jump started in the top of the third as Lichtner recorded a one-out single to right field. She then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Fischer then lined an RBI triple to right field for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Peacocks looked to rally with runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the fourth but rookie Nadia Andarowski escaped the frame, grabbing a line drive hit back to the circle.
 
Momentum carried over for the Gaels as freshman Caelin Kosvitch recorded a one-out double in the top of the fifth inning. Lichtner followed with an RBI single to centerfield for the first run of the inning. After a walk, Fischer lifted an RBI single to right field for the 3-0 advantage.
 
Saint Peter's once again threatened to rally, this time in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and the go-ahead run at the plate with one out. Andarowski evaded trouble with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. The rookie right hander retired the side for the 3-0 shutout win. 

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Hoppe recorded the first perfect game of her collegiate career in game one. She already has a no-hitter on her resume, recording two strikeouts and two walks in 7 innings pitched in a 2-1 Drexel win back on March 26, 2024.
• Lichtner posted her first career three-hit game in the opener and followed with her fifth multi-hit game in the second contest.
• Werth added her eighth multi-hit game of the season in game one.
• Piña tallied her seventh multi-hit game on the year in game one.
• In game two, Kosvitch added her second multi-hit game of the season.
• Fischer totaled her eighth and ninth multi-hit games and has recorded multiple hits in three straight for Iona. She added her first three-RBI game of the season in game one and her sixth two-RBI game in the second contest.
• Andarowski earned her seventh win in the circle and her second shutout of the season in game two.

UP NEXT

The Gaels travel to Bucknell on Thursday, April 24 to close out non-conference play with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. from Becker Field.