NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University Softball team returned to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Friday afternoon against Siena at Donald E. Walsh Field. The Gaels, serving as the designated away team dropped a pair of one-run decisions, 3-2 in game one and 1-0 in game to the Saints who served as the home team after the relocation of the series.
 
Sophomore Jovanna Donaruma led the Maroon & Gold with a 2-for-3 day at the plate including her first collegiate home run in game one.

GAME ONE: SIENA 3, IONA 2

Iona looked to open the scoring in the top of the second as freshman LeeAnn Downey earned a walk and sophomore Marylou Piazza was hit by a pitch. After a pop out, senior Hannah Werth loaded the bases with a seven-pitch walk. Siena escape trouble with another pop out and a strikeout swinging to end the inning.
 
The Gaels threatened again in the third as senior Hailey Guerrero was hit by a pitch and then swiped second base. A strikeout and wild pitch allowed Downey to reach first and Guerrero to advance to third. Downey then stole second base and an errant throw to third allowed Guerrero to score, giving Iona the 1-0 advantage.
 
Siena looked for the tying run in the bottom of the third and fourth innings with runners in scoring position, but rookie Melissa Gordon picked up inning ending ground outs in both frames.
 
Iona added to its lead in the top of the sixth as Donaruma lifted the 2-2 offering over the left field fence. The Gaels looked to tack on more insurance runs with runners on second and third and one-out but Gracie Goewey for Siena got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
 
The Saints used that momentum in the bottom of the frame, getting runners to second and third with one out. After a groundout for the second out, a two-RBI double followed to knot the game up at 2-2.
 
Iona was retired in order in the top half of the seventh. Siena followed with back-to-back groundouts before earning a walk. Emma Petersen secured the walk off for the Saints with an RBI double to the gap in right center to bring the final to 3-2.

GAME TWO: SIENA 1, IONA 0

Offense was slow to get going in the game two as Iona was retired in order the first two innings. The Saints got rolling with a pair of singles to begin the second but were retired in order from there.
Iona got its first hit of the game on a leadoff single from sophomore Sara Piña in the third inning. After a strikeout, rookie Rachael Morales earned a seven-pitch walk. The Gaels looked to advance both runners on a sacrifice bunt but the Saints nabbed the lead runner and then recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Siena broke things open in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single. After a pop out bunt attempt, the Saints took advantage of a throwing error to put two runners on. A bloop single then loaded the bases. Petersen delivered the sacrifice fly to center field for the 1-0 advantage.
 
Iona was held at bay by Siena's Violet Marta who only issued a one-out single to senior Brianna Fischer in the sixth before retiring the next five batters in a row to seal the 1-0 victory. Junior Allison Hoppe pitched the complete game for the Gaels, scattering five hits to go with a walk and a strikeout.

UP NEXT

Both teams wrap up the weekend series on Saturday, March 21 with a noon start from Walsh Field.