POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Iona University Softball team dropped its first game at the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship on Friday afternoon, falling to No. 1 seed Marist, 12-7 at Gartland Field. In a game that saw 27 hits, the Red Foxes used home field advantage over the Gaels to advance to the final.
Rookie
Rachael Morales led the Maroon & Gold with a 3-for-4 game with two home runs and three runs batted in. Senior
Hailey Guerrero and sophomore
Sara Piña both tallied two hits and a run batted in.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona got on the board early as Morales led off the contest, launching the 2-2 offering over the right field wall for her 50
th hit and sixth home run of the season.
Marist countered in the bottom half of the first one back-to-back doubles to knot the game up. Gordon was able to escape trouble with three consecutive outs to end the inning.
The Gaels threatened in the top of the second with a pair of runners on with two outs as sophomore
Jovanna Donaruma reached on a fielder's choice and senior
Hannah Werth a 10-pitch walk. Marist got out of the inning with a strikeout.The Red Foxes broke the tie in the bottom of the second inning with three runs on a one-out RBI single to right field, an RBI groundout and a two-out RBI infield single to take a 4-1 advantage.
Iona responded in the top of the third as Piña roped a double to the gap in right center for her 50
th hit on the season. She advanced to third on a ground out. Senior
Brianna Fischer then lined an RBI single to left field for the first run of the inning. Guerrero followed with a single through the right side. Senior
Brooke Acker then went first pitch hunting to line an RBI single up the middle to make it a one run ballgame. Marist evaded further trouble with an inning ending pop out.
Marist punched right back in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back solo home runs to extend its lead. A third run came around to score in the frame on a two-out single to give the home team a 7-3 lead.
Iona got started in the top of the fourth on a one-out single by Morales. After a strikeout, Piña smoked her second double of the game, allowing Morales to score from first base. Sophomore
Addie Smith followed with a line drive RBI single back to the pitcher to cut the deficit to two. The Red Foxes made a pitching change and got a foul out to end the inning.
A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth pushed Marist's lead back to three. The fifth inning was the first scoreless frame of the ballgame between the two teams.
Werth led off the top of the sixth with a single back up the middle. Morales then smoked her second home run of the game, this time sending the 1-0 offering over the wall in left center to make it a one-run ballgame.
Marist extended its lead in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI fielder's choice and a two-out three-run home run. Iona was retired in order in the top of the seventh to give the home team the win to advance into the championship.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will take on either No. 5 Quinnipiac or No. 4 Sacred Heart in the loser's bracket final later this afternoon. Game time will be approximately 4 PM.
