NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University Softball team capped its weekend series against Siena with a 5-0 shutout victory on Saturday afternoon. The Gaels offense used a big second inning before adding insurance runs in the fifth frame to secure the win over the Saints at Donald E. Walsh Field.
Junior
Bella DiGiandomenico spun her first shutout as a Gael, scattering four hits and three walks while striking out three in her second win of the season. Senior
Brooke Acker led the Maroon & Gold offense with two hits and three runs batted in.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona serving as the designated visiting team got rolling offensively in the top of the second as senior
Hailey Guerrero earned a leadoff walk. Acker stepped to the plate and lined an RBI double to right center to take the 1-0 lead. Rookie
LeeAnn Downey then went first pitch hunting and lined an RBI triple to right center. After a strikeout, sophomore Sara Piña dropped down an RBI bunt to second base to bring the score to 3-0.
DiGiandomenico was in control for the Gaels, holding the Saints to just one baserunner the first three innings. She surrendered the first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth, a one-out double. Iona's defense picked her up with an inning ending double play.
Momentum carried over to the top of the fifth as senior
Hannah Werth led off the inning with a single to left field and then stole second base. After a groundout, sophomore
Jovanna Donaruma and senior
Brianna Fischer reached on back-to-back hit by pitches. An infield fly pop out followed before Acker stepped to the plate. She delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to bring the score to 5-0.
Siena threatened with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. DiGiandomenico escaped trouble with an inning ending strikeout looking. In the bottom of the seventh she issued a one-out single before recording a fly out to right field and a foul out to third base to seal the 5-0 victory for the Gaels.
UP NEXT
The Gaels cap the homestand at Walsh Field on Wednesday, March 25 with a 2 p.m. matchup against St. John's.