NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University Softball team returned to Donald E. Walsh Field on Friday afternoon with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against reigning champions Marist. The Gaels used a big second inning to grab the opener 8-3, the Red Foxes squeezed out a 2-1 pitcher's duel in the second game to earn the split.
 
The Maroon & Gold posted 14 hits on the day against Marist. Seniors Brooke Acker and Alivia Lichtner posted three hits each. Sophomore Addie Smith added three hits between the two games and two RBI. Senior Brianna Fischer tallied a team-high three runs batted in during game one.

GAME ONE: IONA 8, MARIST 3

Marist looked to strike first in game one with a leadoff base knock. Rookie Melissa Gordon settled in, retiring the next three batters in order including an inning ending strikeout.
 
The Gaels got started with one-out in the bottom of the first as Lichtner lined a triple to left center field. Fischer drove her in with a sacrifice fly to center field for the 1-0 lead.
 
Marist countered in the top of the second on a two-out three-run home run to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Iona answered right back in the next half inning as sophomore Sara Piña worked a leadoff walk. Acker followed with a single up the middle. After a strikeout, Smith went first pitch hunting and lined a two-run double to left center to knot the game up. Senior Hannah Werth followed and lined an RBI single back up the middle for the lead. It was her 100^th career hit with the base knock. Another strikeout followed before Fischer won a five-pitch at back and lined a two-run double to left center. After a Marist pitching change, the inning continued with a walk to senior Hailey Guerrero before Piña added an infield single to load the bases. Acker made it an 8-3 ball game with her RBI single up the middle.
 
Gordon settled in from there, retiring Marist in order in the third. She got inning ending groundouts in the fourth and fifth inning before an inning ending strikeout in the sixth as the Red Foxes threatened with runners on in each frame. She capped the complete game with a one, two, three seventh inning for her seventh win of the season.

GAME TWO: MARIST 2, IONA 1

It was a pitchers duel from the start in game two as junior Allison Hoppe struck out the side after a two-out hit by pitch.
Marist broke things open in the top of the third after a leadoff double. A misplay in the outfield with one-out allowed the first run to score and an RBI groundout followed to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
 
Iona was retired in order in each of the first three innings of action by Marist's Stella Blanchard. Lichtner got the Gaels on the board with a one-out single through the right side.
 
A one-two, three fifth frame followed before the Gaels ended the top of the sixth with a double play.
 
Momentum carried over in the bottom of the sixth as rookie Rachael Morales lined a two-out double to right center. Lichtner then drove Morales in with an RBI single to left field before advancing to second on the throw home to make it a 2-1 ballgame. An intentional walk to Fischer followed before Guerrero earned a five-pitch walk of her own. The Red Foxes evaded trouble with an inning ending infield pop out.
 
The Gaels looked for a late rally in the seventh as Smith lined a two-out single back up the middle. Marist sealed the game on a strikeout looking for the doubleheader split.
 
Hoppe scattered two hits in the complete game and struck out five with just one walk.

UP NEXT

The two sides close out the weekend series with the rubber match on Saturday, April 4 with a noon start from Walsh Field.