NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University softball team had its nine-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday afternoon, dropping both games of a doubleheader against Fairfield at Donald E. Walsh Field. In the final home games of the regular season, the Gaels dropped the opener, 4-2 before a 7-4 finale to slide to 18-5 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
 
Rookie Sara Piña drove in four runs on the day for the Maroon & Gold and batted .625 (5-of-8) against the Stags. Juniors Brooke Acker and Hannah Werth also contributed a run batted in.

GAME ONE: FAIRFIELD 4, IONA 2

Fairfield looked to strike first with runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the first but sophomore Allison Hoppe was able to get an inning ending line out to left field.
 
The Gaels then used patience at the plate as junior Hailey Guerrero and Acker both worked two-out walks in the next half inning. Piña then stepped to the plate and lined the fifth pitch of the at-bat back up the middle for an RBI single and the 1-0 Iona lead.
 
Scoring was quiet until the bottom of the third as Guerrero led off the inning with an infield single to shortstop. Acker followed with a single up the middle to put two runners on. Piña delivered once again, this time going first pitch hunting to deliver an RBI single to centerfield for the 2-0 advantage. Iona then had runners on second and third with one out after a sacrifice bunt, but Fairfield escaped trouble with a foul out and line out to end the inning.
 
The Stags who were held to two hits through the first four innings finally broke through in the fifth with four hits including three RBI singles and a suicide squeeze bunt to swing momentum and take a 4-2 lead.
 
Iona threatened in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs, but the Stags once again got a line out to end the inning. Piña got her third hit of the opening game with a leadoff single to right field in the seventh as the Gaels looked to rally. After a pop out and foul out, junior Alivia Lichtner then earned a four pitch walk to put the tying run at first base. Fairfield hung on for the 4-2 win after a game ending line out to second base.
 
Piña tallied a game-high three hits while Werth and Guerrero also added multi-hit games. The Gaels stranded 13 runners on the basepaths. Hoppe struck out four in the complete game setback.

GAME TWO: FAIRFIELD 7, IONA 4

Fairfield kept things rolling into game two, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead after a one-out RBI single to center field in the top of the second. Iona looked to answer in the bottom of the frame as senior Brianna Bailey and freshman Caelin Kosvitch recorded back-to-back singles to left field. After a strikeout, senior Destiny Nardello was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Stags were able to end the inning with an infield pop out.
 
Fairfield added to its lead in the top of the fourth with a two-out two run home run. Iona finally answered in the bottom of the fifth as junior Brianna Fischer opened the frame with a hit by pitch and Werth followed with an infield single. After two quick outs, Piña chopped into the deficit with a two-RBI double down the right field line to bring the score to 3-2.
 
Momentum was short lived as the Stags hit back-to-back-to-back one-out home runs to take a 6-2 advantage.
 
The Gaels didn't back down as Lichtner opened the bottom of the sixth with a single to right center and Nardello followed with a double off the center field wall to put two runners in scoring position. A walk followed and then Werth registered a five-pitch pitch RBI walk for the first run of the inning. Fairfield then got the second out with a play at the plate. Acker then made it a two-run game with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field. With runners on first and third, the Stags ended the inning with a fielder's choice at second base.
 
Fairfield recorded its final run in the top of the seventh with a two-out RBI single to center field. Iona was faced with one more rally attempt brought the tying run to the plate after a two-out single from Lichtner and a five-pitch walk to Nardello. The Stags ended the game and secured the series sweep with a pop out to second base.
 
Piña added another multi-hit game and Bailey and Lichtner also totaled two hits each in the second contest. Iona stranded 12 runners in the second contest. Rookie Nadia Andarowski suffered the setback in the circle for the Maroon & Gold.

UP NEXT

The Gaels conclude the 2025 regular season schedule on the road at first-place, Marist. The series has been moved up due to potential inclement weather with the opening doubleheader now being played at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.