POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Iona University Softball team kicked off the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship with a 3-1 victory over No. 6 Siena at Gartland Field. The Gaels held the two-run advantage yesterday before the game was halted due to inclement weather and returned this morning to seal the victory over the Saints.
Senior
Hailey Guerrero launched her eighth home run of the season to jumpstart the Maroon & Gold offense. Rookie
Rachael Morales registered a team-high two runs batted in. Senior
Brooke Acker tallied a team-best two hits. Rookie
Melissa Gordon logged her 14
th win in the circle and held the Saints to just four hits.
GAME SUMMARY
Siena struck first with its first two batters in the second reaching base on an Iona miscue and a walk. A sacrifice bunt moved them over before a sacrifice fly brought in the first run of the game. Iona escaped the frame with an inning ending ground out.
The Maroon & Gold punched back in the next half inning as Guerrero connected on the 3-2 offering and launched the first home run of the championship over the left field wall to knot the game up. The inning continued as senior
Brooke Acker reached on a single to center field and sophomore
Jovanna Donaruma worked a five-pitch walk. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Morales lifted a fly ball to deep center field for the sacrifice fly and 2-1 Iona lead.
Siena threatened with a runner in scoring position in the third with one out, senior
Hannah Werth made a spectacular diving catch in left center for the second out. She then chased the third out in foul ground in left field to end the inning.
Iona's offense picked up in the bottom of the fourth as Acker led off with a six-pitch walk. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before the Saints picked up out number two on a strikeout. Morales then stepped to the plate, faced with a 0-2 count delivered an RBI single back up the middle to push the lead to two.
The Saints looked to counter in the top of the fifth as the first two batters reached base. Gordon settled in and recorded three straight outs to retire the side. After Iona came to bat in the bottom of the fifth, the game was halted for the day due to inclement weather.
Both teams resumed play 22 hours later to resume the game in the top of the sixth. Gordon started the inning with a big strikeout swinging. The Saints then threatened with a single and hit by pitch. The right-hander got another punch out for out number two before Guerrero made a diving stop at second base. Gordon then retired the Saints in order in the top half of the seventh to seal the opening win.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will take on No. 2 seed Fairfield in the second round of the 2026 MAAC Championship this afternoon. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. and will air on ESPN Plus.
