LEXINGTON, SC — After weather conditions delayed its season opening series a week ago UNC Greensboro, the Iona College softball team opened its 2015 season Saturday with a pair of non-conference setbacks. In game one of the day, the Gaels fell to UNC Greensboro 8-5 before suffering a 13-2 five inning loss to George Washington.
In the opener against Greensboro, senior Allison Hand and sophomore Katie Newton each collected two hits apiece, while Newton drove in three runs and sophomore Lauren Filardi drove in two. Senior Brianna Schauer scored twice.
Iona grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by sophomore Lauren Filardi and a two run single by Newton.
The Spartans answered with three runs in the top of the third to even the game, before scoring a run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead. Iona scored its final two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI groundout by Filardi and run scoring single by Newton.
Junior Jordan Courage suffered the loss in the circle for Iona, surrendering eight runs, six earned, on seven hits and five walks in five innings pitched.
In game two, junior Sarah Schutz collected three of Iona’s five hits, with a double and a run scored. Junior Alleyne Clark scored the other Iona run.
The Colonials jumped out to a 9-0 lead after four runs in the second and third innings before the Gaels scored one run apiece in the top of the fourth and top of the fifth.
Schauer plated Schutz with a fourth inning RBI single, before Clark scored in the fifth on a George Washington error.
The Colonials ended the game with a grand slam by Victoria Valos in the bottom of the fifth inning off freshman reliever Jessica Harkness.
Sophomore Sarah McMahon took the loss in game two, allowing eight runs, seven earned on six hits and five runs. Harkness allowed five runs, four earned, on four walks and two hits in 1.2 innings of work.
The Gaels complete the weekend with two more games in Lexington against George Washington (11:00 am) and UNC Greensboro (1:15 pm).