SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Iona University Softball team wrapped up its non-conference slate on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader at Seton Hall. The Pirates grabbed a 5-1 win in the opener at Mike Shepard Sr. Field before the Gaels stormed back to take game two, 7-2 for the split.
Senior
Brianna Fischer recorded three hits and two runs batted in for the two contests. Senior
Alivia Lichtner registered three hits in game two. Sophomores
Sara Piña and
Addie Smith also tallied two hits apiece in game two. Senior
Brooke Acker added her fourth home run of the season for the Gaels in the second contest.
GAME ONE: SETON HALL 5, IONA 1
The Pirates opened the scoring in the bottom of the first one a two-out RBI double for the early 1-0 lead.
Fischer recorded the first Iona hit with a bunt single to lead off the second inning before getting thrown out on a steal attempt at second base.
Iona threatened in the top of the fourth as rookie
Rachael Morales worked a six-pitch walk before advancing to second on an error with one-out. Piña then earned a five-pitch walk. A flyout advanced to Morales to third before Piña stole second to put runners in scoring position. Seton Hall escaped the inning with a flyout to right field.
Seton Hall padded their lead in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out three run home run.
Iona finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning as senior
Hannah Werth earned a leadoff walk. Morales then singled through the left side to put two runners on. A fielder's choice at second base put runners on first and third with one-out. Piña lifted a flyball to deep right field to score Werth to make it a 4-1 ballgame. Seton Hall recorded a flyout to end the frame.
The Pirates capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out RBI double to bring the final score to 5-1.
Iona was outhit 7-2 by the Pirates in the opener. Junior
Bella DiGiandomenico pitched the complete game in the circle for the Gaels.
GAME TWO: IONA 7, SETON HALL 2
After a quite opener, the Gaels pounced early in game two as Lichtner and Piña recorded back-to-back one-out singles. Fischer drove in the first run on an RBI single to right field for the 1-0 lead. The Pirates mitigate damage with an inning ending double play.
Seton Hall threatened with bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, but rookie
Melissa Gordon was able to get a groundout to first base to end the frame.
Iona got started in the third inning on a one-out double down the left field line from Lichtner. She then advanced to third on a ground out. Fischer then stepped to the dish and lined an RBI double to center field for the 2-0 lead.
The Gaels added another run in the top of the fourth as Acker went first pitch swinging and launched a solo home run over the left field fence.
Iona capped its scoring in the top of the sixth with a big four-run frame. Senior
Hailey Guerrero and Smith tallied back-to-back one-out singles to get things started. Graduate student
Kenadie Gonzalez then worked a walk to load the bases. Werth drove in the first run on an RBI ground out to first. Morales then lined a ball to right center that was misplayed allowing two more runs to score. Lichtner capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle.
Seton Hall grabbed one run in the sixth inning on a two-out error by the Gaels. The Pirates brought the final score to 7-2 after a sacrifice fly to right field before Iona recorded a lineout to third base to seal the win.
Gordon recorded her 11
th win of the season in the circle, scattering seven hits and two earned runs in the complete game.
UP NEXT
Iona concludes the regular season with a weekend series at Manhattan. The series begins on Friday, May 1 with a noon doubleheader from Gaelic Park.
