POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Iona University Softball team outlasted No. 5 Quinnipiac in the elimination game, 6-5 to clinch its spot in the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship. Senior
Hannah Werth delivered the walk-off RBI single to put the Maroon & Gold back in the championship for the first time since 2014.
A tightly contested battle at Gartland Field between the Gaels and Bobcats saw both teams recorded 11 hits on the day. Rookie
Rachael Morales and sophomore
Sara Piña led the Gaels with three hits in the win. Morales, senior
Hailey Guerrero and sophomore
Addie Smith recorded home runs. Smith led with two runs batted as five different Gaels recorded runs batted in.
GAME SUMMARY
The Bobcats fresh off an elimination game win over Sacred Heart got a one-out single through the right side. Rookie
Melissa Gordon then retired the next two batters to and the inning.
Iona pounced early at the plate as Morales led the bottom of the first off with a solo home run to center field for her third home run of the day. After a ground out, Piña lined a single back up the middle. Smith stepped to the dish and launched the 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for her second home run of the season. Quinnipiac scooped the second out on a ground out back to the circle. Guerrero was next up and delivered the third home run of the inning with a blast to dead center field for the 4-0 advantage.
Gordon held the Bobcats in check through the first four innings, yielding four hits and stranding five runners on base.
Quinnipiac countered in the top of the fifth innings with five straight base hits including a two-RBI single and an RBI single to cut the deficit to one. Junior
Bella DiGiandomenico came on in relief and retired the next two batters including a strikeout and pick off play at second by senior
Brooke Acker who's pinpoint throw from the plate caught the lead runner diving back to the base.
Piña then opened the bottom half of the fifth with a double down the right field line. She advanced to third on a ground out. Senior
Brianna Fischer pushed the lead back to two on an RBI ground out to second base.
The Bobcats countered in the top of the sixth on a one-out RBI triple to right field and then scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game up at 5-5. Junior
Allison Hoppe who entered the circle to record the final out in the sixth inning would yield just one hit in two and a third as the game headed into extras.
The Gaels finally showed late life in the bottom of the eighth as Acker opened with a one-out single to right field. Sophomore
Marylou Piazza would come on to pinch hit and laced a double to left field to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Werth then stepped to the plate and lined the 2-1 pitch into left field to score Acker from third to give Iona the 6-5 victory.
UP NEXT
Iona will take on No. 1 Marist in the 2026 MAAC Championship. The Gaels will square off against the Red Foxes tomorrow, Saturday, May 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Gartland Field. With the tournament's double elimination format, Iona can force the winner take all game 11 with a win.
