WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Iona College softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Monmouth. The Maroon & Gold picked up the game one victory 8-4, before dropping game two 3-2.
In the opener, Iona collected 14 hits, as six players recorded two-hit efforts. Sophomore SS Katie Newton and 2B Lauren Filardi each drove in two runs in the victory.
After the Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Gaels scored three times in the second inning. Junior 3B Sarah Schutz led off the frame with a double down the right field line, and came around on a double by Filardi. Sophomore RF Kelsey Long drove in junior C Brianna King with an RBI groundout, before senior CF Allison Hand plated Filardi with a single through the left side.
Monmouth trimmed its deficit to one, 3-2, with a run in the second inning before Iona scored another run in the top of the third. After redshirt sophomore P Christine Costello led off with a double, Turner drove her in with a single to left. Iona was unable to extend its lead despite a bases loaded situation later in the frame.
The Hawks scored single runs in both the third and fourth inning, but were unable to catch up after the Gaels scored three times in the fourth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Newton drove in sophomore LF Ashlyn Morris and Hand with a single to right center. Schutz then scored the third run of the inning on a single to left by King.
Iona added its final run of the game in the sixth on Filardi’s RBI single to center, scoring Newton. Costello picked up her second win of the season in the game, going seven innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits and two walks.
Monmouth starter Sydney Underhill (3-8) took the loss, allowing four earned runs in 2.0 innings of work.
In game two, the Gaels opened up a two-run lead in the top of the first, when Turner launched her sixth home run of the year.
The Hawks scored once in the bottom of the first, before scoring the go ahead runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Justene Reyes drove in the winning runs with a two-run single to right field.
Junior P Jordan Courage (2-9) took the loss for Iona, allowing three runs in 4.1 innings, on five hits and two walks. Sophomore P Sarah McMahon allowing just one hit in 1.2 frames of relief.
Amanda Riley (2-4) picked up the win for Monmouth, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk in seven innings.
The Gaels continue league play Sunday at Saint Peter’s, beginning at 12:00 pm.
