NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University softball team extended its winning streak to seven consecutive games on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep over Niagara. The Gaels rallied in the fourth inning of game one for a 5-2 win over the Purple Eagles before a six-run first inning in the 7-5 game two victory at Donald E. Walsh Field.
The Maroon & Gold now move to 12-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play and now boast a 6-0 record on Tuesday contest in 2025. Four different batters contributed a run batted in for game one led by a two-RBI go-ahead double from junior
Brianna Fischer. First-year
Sara Piña recorded a three-RBI game two with a two-run home run and an RBI triple.
GAME ONE: IONA 5, NIAGARA 2
The visiting Purple Eagles struck first in the opening game with a one-out RBI single in the first inning and a two-out RBI single in the third frame for the 2-0 advantage.
Iona grabbed its first hit of the game on a leadoff double by Piña in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior
Kenadie Gonzalez followed with a five-pitch walk before junior
Alivia Lichtner laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Freshman
Caelin Kosvitch drove in the first run on an RBI hit by pitch. After a double play by Niagara, junior
Hannah Werth lined an RBI single up the middle to tie the game up. Fischer then lined a two-run ground rule double to the dead center to give Iona the lead.
The Gaels grabbed the final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Lichtner hit an RBI triple to right field to bring the score to 5-2.
Niagara threatened with the tying run at the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings, but rookie
Nadia Andarowski secured an inning ending groundout to hold the lead for Iona.
Senior
Samantha Rieb started in the circle for the Gaels, pitching the first three innings. She surrendered just one earned run and struck out four batters. Andarowski earned the win in relief, scattering four hits in the final four innings.
GAME TWO: IONA 7, NIAGARA 5
The Gaels kept it rolling into game two, scoring six runs in the first inning. Junior
Brooke Acker broke the game open with a two-RBI double to right center. Piña followed that up with a two-run home run to right center. Kosvitch then hit a two-out RBI single and senior
Brianna Bailey capped the inning with an RBI double to left center for the 6-0 lead.
Niagara scratched one run back in the second inning on a two-out solo home run to right field. Iona grabbed its final run of the game in the bottom of the frame on a two-out RBI triple to right center to take a seven-run advantage.
The Purple Eagles grabbed three runs on three hits in the third on another solo home run and a two-run single to left center.
Niagara looked to rally in the top of the seventh, scoring one run on a throwing error by the Gaels. Sophomore
Allison Hoppe was able to seal the complete game win by getting an infield fly out and a fly out to right field with two runners for the 7-5 final.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Piña led the Maroon & Gold with four hits in the doubleheader with a pair of multi-hit games. Her home run in game two was the first of her collegiate career.
- Fischer recorded her third multi-RBI game of the season in game one.
- Acker posted her 10th multi-hit and seventh multi-RBI game of the year in game two for Iona.
- Andarowski earned her third straight appearance in the circle for the Gaels. She hasn't surrendered a run in her last 19.2 innings pitched.
- Hoppe recorded her ninth complete game win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Gaels travel up to Western New York for a three-game set at Canisius beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12 at noon.
