CHARLESTON, SC — The Iona College softball team split its final two games of the Charleston Southern Tournament Saturday at CSU Softball Field. After a 6-2 game one setback to Wright State in the opener, the Gaels picked up their first win of the season with a 4-1 victory over the host Bucs in the second contest of the day.
On the day, junior Sarah Schutz was the difference at the plate. Schutz picked up three hits over the two games, all for extra bases, including home runs in each contest.
Against the Bucs, sophomore Kelsey Long broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning, when she drove in pinch runner Sarah McMahon with a double to left center. McMahon had stolen after running for junior Brianna King, who started the rally with a leadoff single. With Long and sophomore Ashlyn Morris on base, Schutz drove in three with a shot that cleared the right field wall.
Schutz’s home run proved to be the difference as Charleston Southern plated its lone run in the bottom of the inning on a two-out home run by Cheyenne Gandara.
Freshman Jessica Harkness pitched her first complete game in the win, earning her first collegiate victory in the process. Over her seven innings in the circle, Harkness scattered five walks and six hits.
Earlier in the day, the Gaels found themselves in an early 3-0 hole after Wright State scored once in the second inning and added two more in the third.
The Raiders added three more in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Iona plated its only runs of the game in the top of the seventh when Schutz drove in sophomore Katie Newton with a home run to right center.
McMahon took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs in four innings. Junior Jordan Courage surrendered two runs in two innings in a relief effort.
The Gaels are back in action Friday, Mar. 13 with day one of the CSU Northridge Tournament in California.
