NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University Softball team made its return to Donald E. Walsh Field on Friday afternoon for the first time in 13 days and delivered a doubleheader sweep over Saint Peter's. The Gaels grabbed a 6-1 opening win before a 2-1 victory to seal the sweep over the Peacocks.
Iona outhit Saint Peter's 14-8 and swiped six stolen bases between the two games. Senior
Hailey Guerrero led the Maroon & Gold with three runs batted in on the day including a two-run home run in game one. Sophomore
Sara Piña tallied a team-high four hits to pair with two runs batted in and rookie
Rachael Morales led with four runs scored.
In the circle, rookie
Melissa Gordon earned her 10
th win of the season with the game one complete game. Junior
Allison Hoppe tallied the game two win, issuing just four hits with zero walks and three strikeouts.
GAME ONE: IONA 6, SAINT PETER'S 1
The Gaels opened the scoring in the first frame of game one. Morales led off the bottom of the first with a double down the left field line. After a groundout, Piña lined a double to left center to score Morales for the 1-0 lead.
Saint Peter's leveled the game in the top of the third, courtesy of a one-out solo home run to left center.
Iona answered quickly as Piña recorded a one-out single up the middle the next half inning. Guerrero then worked a six-pitch at bat sending a laser over the left field fence for her sixth home run of the season and the 3-1 lead.
The Gaels capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as senior
Hannah Werth opened the inning with an RBI double down the left field line. Senior
Alivia Lichtner continued the inning with a 2 RBI single to left field to bring the score to 6-1.
Gordon was strong in the circle the final four innings as the Peacocks stranded four base runners. She yielded just one hit along with a pair of strikeouts and capped the game with a three-up three-down top of the seventh for the win.
GAME TWO: IONA 2, SAINT PETER'S 1
It was a pitching duel to start at both sides were held to two hits through the first two and a third innings of play.
Iona broke things open in the bottom of the third as Morales reached on a fielding error and advanced to second thanks to heads up base running with one-out. She then moved to third on a groundout. Piña then lined a 1-0 pitch to right center for the early 1-0 favor. The Gaels eventually drew the bases loaded in the frame but Saint Peter's escaped with a line out to short.
After a quite couple of innings, the Gaels got rolling once again in the bottom of the fifth as Morales led off with a single up the middle before sliding to second on a sacrifice bunt. Another groundout followed to move her to third. Guerrero then recorded an RBI infield single to give Iona the 2-0 edge.
Hoppe held the Peacocks to just two hits through the first four innings of action while striking out three. Saint Peter's finally countered in the sixth with a leadoff double and sacrifice bunt. An RBI single followed to make it a one-run ball game. Iona escaped trouble as Acker caught the runner attempting to steal second with two outs.
Iona looked for insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as senior
Brianna Fischer worked a leadoff walk then advanced to third with two outs. The Peacocks recorded an inning ending strikeout to end the threat.
It was a one-two-three top of the seventh for Hoppe in the circle to seal the doubleheader sweep.
UP NEXT
Due to inclement weather forecasted for tomorrow, the series finale between the two teams has moved to Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m. from Walsh Field. Iona will recognize its senior class for senior day pregame at 12:40 p.m. on Sunday.
