WILMINGTON, NC — The Iona University Softball team continued its weekend down in North Carolina on Saturday. The Gaels suffered a 7-0 defeat to Georgetown in the opener at Boseman Field before a 3-0 setback to host, UNCW after a long rain delay.
Senior
Brianna Fischer led the Gaels with a 3-for-5 day at the plate in the two games. The Maroon & Gold were outhit 19-8 by the two competitors today.
GAME ONE: GEORGETOWN 7, IONA 0
The Hoyas broke open the scoring in the top of the second with back-to-back two out RBI singles to jump ahead 2-0.
Iona's offense held to just one base runner through the first three innings of action as senior
Hailey Guerrero reached base on a throwing error in the first inning. Fischer got the first hit of the game for the Gaels in the bottom of the fourth with a liner to third base before advancing to second on a throwing error. Georgetown settled in and retired Iona in order from there to escape the inning.
The Hoyas pulled ahead with a big top of the fifth, scoring three runs on four hits and an Iona error to extend the lead to 6-0.
Iona's second hit of the contest came in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore
Addie Smith registered a leadoff single to center field. But momentum was short lived as Catherine Larson then struck out the side for the Hoyas.
The final run of the game came in the top of the seventh inning on a leadoff home run over the wall in left center to bring the final score to 7-0.
Junior
Allison Hoppe pitched the first four and a third innings for the Gaels and rookie
Melissa Gordon pitched the final two and two thirds in relief.
GAME TWO: UNCW 3, IONA 0
Back in action a few hours later, the Gaels offense picked up two hits in the first two frames on a two-out first inning double from Fischer and a two-out bloop single from graduate student
Kenadie Gonzalez.
Junior
Bella DiGiandomenico held the Seahawks to just two hits through the first three innings with a pair of strikeouts.
After the bottom of the third, the game then entered an hour and a half rain delay as a storm swept through the area.
Iona came out swinging in the resumption of play with a leadoff single from Fischer and an infield single by Guerrero. A sacrifice bunt by senior
Brooke Acker advanced both runners over. UNCW escaped trouble with a groundout to third and a strikeout swinging.
The Seahawks broke the scoreless game open in the bottom of the fifth on a well-placed RBI bunt and a two-run two-out double to pull ahead 3-0.
A leadoff walk for senior
Hannah Werth led off the top half of the sixth as Iona looked to get on the scoreboard. A sacrifice bunt and groundout allowed her to advance to third base. Acker then worked a six-pitch walk to put two runners on. The Seahawks evaded trouble once more with an inning ending ground out.
Down to its final out in the seventh, senior
Alivia Lichtner kept the game alive with an infield single. Rookie
Rachael Morales followed with a six-pitch walk to put two runners on. UNCW sealed the game with a swinging strikeout.
UP NEXT
Iona's weekend finale against Lafayette d slated Sunday, February 22 has been canceled as both teams travel back home ahead of the impending snowstorm slated to hit the Northeast.
