NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University Softball team closed out its five-game homestand with a doubleheader sweep over Canisius on Tuesday afternoon. The Gaels came out firing with an 8-2 win in game one before a 5-3 game two decision over the Golden Griffins at Donald E. Walsh Field.
 
Senior Alivia Lichtner led the Gaels with a 5-for-6 day at the plate with three runs scored and three runs batted in and ended the day with a home run. Senior Hailey Guerrero posted three hits including a two-run game two home run and three runs batted in. Sophomore Addie Smith tallied three hits in the two games and rookie Rachael Morales recorded a game-one home run.
 
Rookie Melissa Gordon earned the game one victory for Iona and junior Allison Hoppe registered the game two win in the circle.

GAME ONE: IONA 8, CANISIUS 2

Iona got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning as Morales the MAAC Rookie of the Week won a seven-pitch at bat and lined a solo home run over the right field fence. Lichtner followed with a triple to the gap in right center. Sophomore Sara Piña drove her in on a sacrifice fly to right field to bring the score to 2-0 in favor of the Gaels.
 
The Gaels offense continued in the second inning as Smith lined a one-out double to right center. Senior Hannah Werth then recorded an eight-pitch walk. An errant throw on a fielder's choice by the Golden Griffins extended the inning. Lichtner capitalized with a two-RBI single through the right side. She then swiped second base and allowed Werth to score to make it a 5-0 ballgame.
 
Iona continued in the third as senior Brooke Acker earned a one-out walk. Guerrero followed by going first pitch hunting and lining a two-run shot over the left field fence for the 7-0 margin.
 
Canisius tacked on two runs in the top half of the fourth on a one-out RBI single and an RBI fielder's choice to cut the deficit to five.
 
Offense slowed till the bottom of the fifth as Guerrero lined a one-out double to right center before moving to third on a wild pitch. Smith lifted the sacrifice fly to right field to bring the score to its final 8-2.
 
Gordon scattered five hits and two walks to pair with two strikeouts in game one for her eighth win of the season. Guerrero Lichtner led the Maroon & Gold with two runs batted in each and multiple hits.

GAME TWO: IONA 5, CANISIUS 3

Canisius punched first to kick off game two with an RBI single down the left field line with a pair of runners on in the first. The Gaels and Hoppe settled in getting the next three outs including an inning ending strikeout looking.
 
The Gaels were quick to answer as Morales earned a leadoff walk and Lichtner followed with a double to right field. Piña then laid down a well-timed bunt to reach first and load the bases. Senior Brianna Fischer knotted the game up at 1-1 with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field. A walk to Acker followed to load the bases back up. Guerrero then tallied an RBI single to left field and Smith recorded a sacrifice fly to right field to make it a 3-1 ball game.
 
Canisius countered in each of the next two innings with a sacrifice fly in the second and then scoring on an Iona error with two outs in the third to make it a 3-3 ball game.
 
Iona's offense picked back up in the fourth as Smith opened with a single down the right field line. Sophomore Jovanna Donaruma came on the pinch run and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before moving to third on a wild pitch. Werth then stepped to the plate and lifted the 3-2 pitch to left center to allow Donaruma to score for the sacrifice fly and 4-3 lead.

The Gaels added their final insurance tally in the bottom of the fifth as Lichtner led off the inning with home run over the left field wall to bring the score to 5-3.
 
Hoppe held the Golden Griffins hitless over the final three innings of play to earn her fourth win of the season. She scattered seven hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out four batters.

UP NEXT

The Gaels embark on an eight-game road swing over the next two weeks. First up is a trip to Niagara for a weekend series starting at noon on Saturday, April 11.