NEW ROCHELLE, NY – A sixth-inning rally by the Iona College softball team in game two of a doubleheader with Wagner earned the Maroon & Gold a split in non-conference action at Donald E. Walsh Field. The Gaels rallied from down a run the nightcap to win the game 4-3 following a 5-1 defeat in the opener.
The Gaels scored a run in their final at bat and threatened with the bases loaded before the Seahawks were able to shut the door. Iona had eight hits lead by sophomore RF Kelsey Long’s two. Long was 2-for-2 with a “long” double off the base of the left field fence and reached base in all four plate appearances with a walk and a hit by pitch. Junior 3B Sarah Schutz, sophomore 1B Kristen Turner, sophomore P/DP Christine Costello, sophomore SS Katie Newton, junior C Brianna King and freshman C Tori Danner each recorded hits. Newton led off the seventh inning with a triple and scored on King’s run scoring single to right.
Wagner did most of their damage in the first two innings, scoring two unearned runs in the in the first frame and a two-run home run by 2B Taylor Beeson in the second.
Rookie LHP Jessica Harkness took the loss and was relieved after 1.2 innings. Costello tossed the final 5.1 allowing two hits, two walks and a run with four strikeouts.
In game two, the Seahawks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two run home run by LF Laura Petri. The Gaels halved the deficit in the third inning when a two-out double in the gap by sophomore 2B Lauren Filardi scored sophomore LF Ashlyn Morris from first base.
In the fourth, Turner knotted the game at 2-2, smashing her fifth home run of the season on the first pitch she saw to lead off the inning. The lead was short lived as Wagner went ahead on a one-out double by C Brenda Bott in its next at bat.
In the sixth, Turner started the rally with one out with a double into the right center gap. An infield single by Schutz, just over the outstretched reach of Wagner RHP Samantha Bedker put runners on the corners. A well placed check-swing ground out by Newton allowed rookie PR Courtney Miller to race home from third and Schutz to advance to second base. Costello lined a single the other way allowing Schutz to score the go ahead run.
In the seventh, Wagner put runners on first and second with one out after a leadoff single and a reach on error. Junior RHP Jordan Courage needed just three pitches to escape the jam and complete the “walk up*” win, inducing back-to-back ground outs right back to her to seal the win.
Turner was 2-for-2 with the home run and double and reached base a third time with a walk. Filardi, Schutz, Costello, senior CF Allison Hand and junior C Allyne Clark all had hits in the win.
Sophomore RHP Sarah McMahon pitched the first four innings allowing two runs on two hits with four walks and a strikeout in a no decision. Courage picked up the win tossing the final three frames while allowing a run on four hits and a walk.
EDITOR’S NOTE: a “walk-up” win is when a team takes the lead in its final at bat but still needs to record three outs to finish the game, essentially “walking up” from the dugout to earn the win.