NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College softball team dropped both ends of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader to Fairfield Saturday afternoon at Donald E. Walsh Field. The Stags outlasted the Gaels 8-5 in 12 innings in game one, before taking the finale 6-0.
Sophomore SS Katie Newton continued her recent string of strong play with a team best four hits on the day. Over the last six games, Newton has hit at a .588 clip.
After Fairfield scored the day’s first run in the top of the third inning, Iona struck for two runs in the bottom of the inning. A single by redshirt sophomore RHP Christine Costello pushed sophomore Lauren Filardi home as the hit was misplayed in the outfield. Junior 3B Sarah Schutz reached on another Fairfield miscue, allowing sophomore 1B Kristen Turner to score on the play.
The Gaels took a 5-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore LF Ashlyn Morris drove in Newton with an RBI single to left field before Costello plated Morris and junior C Brianna King with a double down the left field line.
Costello held the Fairfield lineup at bay for five innings, before the Stags struck for four runs in the sixth innings. The Stags scored two runs on an Iona error before a triple by Kristen Ball scored the tying runs with two outs in the inning.
After five scoreless frames, Fairfield plated the winning runs in the top of the 12th. Tori Reed drove in two runs with a triple, and later came in on a single by Sam Frungillo.
In 11-plus frames, Costello allowed five hits and five walks while surrendering six runs, five earned. Nicole Gardon picked up the win for the Stags in relief, throwing four scoreless frames. Fairfield starter Lauren Falkanger gave up five runs, all unearned, on eight hits and four walks in eight innings.
In game two, the Gaels were held to just four hits by Stags starter Destinee Pallotto, and never had more than one runner on base in a single inning.
The Stags put the game out of reach with five runs in the second inning. Lauren Filicia registered a bases clearing triple in the frame, before Samantha Ruffolo drove her in with a single and later came around on an Iona error. Ruffolo scored the final run of the game when Reed connected on a ground rule double to center in the fourth inning.
Iona starter Jordan Courage allowed six runs, five earned, on 10 hits and four walks over seven innings. Pallotto struck out five batters in her seven frames.
The Gaels are back in action Sunday, when they conclude regular season action at Siena.