POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Iona University Softball team battled back to beat No. 2 seed Fairfield, 10-6 in the second round of the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship on Thursday afternoon. The Gaels erased a two-run deficit with a seven-run fourth inning against the Stags at Gartland Field.
The Maroon & Gold offense had seven different batters record a run batted in. Senior
Alivia Lichtner registered a grand slam home run to lead with four runs batted in. Fellow seniors
Brooke Acker,
Brianna Fischer and
Hailey Guerrero recorded a pair of hits and a run batted in.
GAME SUMMARY
The tournament matchup was the first meeting between the two teams this season after not meeting during the regular season with the unbalanced MAAC slate. The Stags jumped out to an early lead on a two-run home run to left field.
Iona was held off the base paths until the top of the third inning as sophomore
Jovanna Donaruma worked a seven-pitch walk for the Gaels. After a strikeout, she swiped second base before Morales worked a five-pitch walk to put a pair of runners on. Fairfield escaped trouble with an inning ending line out to second base.
The Stags looked for insurance runs in the bottom half of the third with two runners on and two outs but junior
Allison Hoppe was able to escape the inning with a pop out to third base.
The Gaels first hit of the game came in the top of the fourth as sophomore
Sara Piña opened the frame with a double through the left side. She then advanced to third on a flyout. Fischer followed with an RBI triple to right field to get Iona on the scoreboard. Guerrero tacked on an RBI single to left field to knot the game up at 2-2. The inning continued with a single from Acker. A walk to Donaruma then loaded the bases. Graduate student
Kenadie Gonzalez gave Iona the lead on an RBI fielder's choice. Then fielder's choice at the plate got the Stags the second out. Lichtner followed by smoking the 2-1 offering over the left field wall for a grand slam home run and the 7-2 Iona advantage.
The Stags punched back in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back one-out home runs to cut deficit to three.
Iona countered in the top of the fifth as Fischer and Guerrero opened with a single and double to get into scoring position. Acker delivered an RBI single through the left side. Donaruma then earned her third walk of the game. Senior
Hannah Werth followed with an RBI single to right field. An RBI fielder's choice by rookie
Rachael Morales extended the lead to 10-4.
Fairfield clawed one run back in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI groundout to short. The Stags threatened again in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out RBI single to bring the score to 10-6. With runners on first and third, rookie
Melissa Gordon got the ground out to end the threat. She then pitched a one, two, three final frame to seal her second win of the game.
Hoppe logged the first three and a third innings for the Maroon & Gold. Gordon pitched the final three and two thirds in relief.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will take on No. 1 Marist on Friday, May 8 at Gartland Field. First pitch is to be determined, and the contest will air on ESPN Plus.
