POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Iona University softball team lost a pair of games to first place Marist on Thursday afternoon at Gartland Field. The Gaels dropped a 2-1 decision in the opener before an 8-1 setback in game two to fall to 18-7 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
 
Junior Brianna Fischer recorded an RBI single in the opening game and scored the lone run in game two on a wild pitch. Junior Hannah Werth tallied a three-hit effort in the second contest for the Maroon & Gold.

GAME ONE: MARIST 2, IONA 1

Offense was slow in the early going of the opening game after both teams were retired in order in the first and both stranded a base runner on a walk in the second inning.
 
Junior Alivia Lichtner recorded the first hit of the game with a leadoff single to right center. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by rookie Jovanna Donaruma. Fischer then stepped to the plate and lined an RBI single to right center to give Iona the 1-0 lead.
 
Sophomore Allison Hoppe retired the side in order in the bottom half of the third for the Gaels. Iona looked to tack on more insurance runs in the fourth as junior Brooke Acker and rookie Sara Piña recorded back-to-back singles with one out. Marist escaped trouble with a pair of infield pop outs to end the inning.
 
The Red Foxes knotted the game up at 1-1 with a leadoff home run over the wall in right center field in the bottom of the fourth. Iona was held to just one base runner in the final three innings a hit by pitch by junior Hailey Guerrero in the top of the sixth. Marist grabbed hold of the lead courtesy of a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth before Kiley Myers shut the door in the seventh for the 2-1 win.
 
Iona outhit Marist 4-3, but the top two in the Red Fox lineup launched home runs to take the opener. Hoppe pitched the complete game effort, striking out two and issuing just one walk.

GAME TWO: MARIST 8, IONA 1

It was scoreless through the opening two innings once again as both teams stranded one base runner through the first two frames.
 
The Gaels struck first thanks discipline at the plate with two outs as Fischer worked a walk. Werth followed with an infield single before Guerrero earned a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Fischer to score from third and gave Iona the 1-0 lead. Another walk followed as Acker loaded the bases once again, but Marist was able to secure an inning ending pop out.
 
Marist answered courtesy of the long ball in the bottom half of the third with a three-run home run and tacked on another run with a rundown play to take a 4-1 lead. The Red Foxes added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single and another three-run home run to jump ahead 8-1.
 
Iona recorded five hits in the final three innings including two hits in both the sixth and seventh inning with one out, but Marist held the Gaels off the scoreboard in both frames to seal the 8-1 victory.

Rookie Nadia Andarowski dropped the decision in the start for game two, registering a pair of strikeouts. Marist held a slight 8-7 advantage on hits in the second contest. Werth posted her third three-hit game of the season and is now tied for the team lead with 12 multi-hit games on the year.

UP NEXT

The Gaels wrap up the final series of the regular season tomorrow at noon against the Red Foxes. Iona looks to fight for seeding in next week's MAAC Championship hosted by Marist, May 6-10.