NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College softball team dropped both ends of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader to Canisius Monday afternoon at Donald E. Walsh Field. In the opener, after the Gaels took 5-1 lead, the Griffs answered with 12 unanswered runs in a 13-5 win. In the second game, Canisius used the momentum of a six run first inning to earn an 8-4 victory.
Sophomores Ashlyn Morris and Kristen Turner each collected three hits over the two games, with Turner connecting for a home run, and driving in four runs. Senior Allison Hand registered a home run in game two.
In the opener, Canisius took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a leadoff by Jessica Berzins. The Gaels answered in the bottom of the frame when Turner connected on her fourth home run of the year, plating Morris, who led off the frame with a single.
Iona extended its lead to 5-1, with a trio of runs in the bottom of the third. Turner delivered a two run double to left center, and senior Brianna Schauer singled down the right field line.
The Griffs got within one with three runs in the fourth, and tied the score at five in the fifth inning. Over their final three at-bats, Canisius added another eight runs, including five in the top of the seventh.
Madi Weathers picked up the win for Canisius, allowing five runs and six hits over seven innings. Freshman Jessica Harkness took the loss in relief, allowing three earned runs on four walks and three hits in 2.0 innings of work. Iona starter Christine Costello allowed four runs, three earned, in 3.1 frames.
In game two, the Griffs scored six runs on four hits and were aided by two Iona errors. Canisius pushed its lead to eight with two runs in the second, when Samantha Sharkey drove in Michelle DelPrince and Berzins with a single up the middle.
The Gaels scored their first runs of the contest in the bottom of the second when Costello plated Hand and Schauer with single to center field.
Iona trimmed the deficit to four, with two more runs in the sixth inning. After Turner hit a one-out single, Hand delivered her second home run of the season to straight away center field.
After a rough start, junior Jordan Courage allowed just one base runner over the final five innings. She allowed five earned runs, seven hits, and three walks over her seven frames. Erika Mackie picked up the win, allowing four runs and six hits over seven.
The Gaels are back in action Wednesday afternoon, when they head to Hofstra for a non-conference double header.