BUFFALO, NY – The sixth-seeded Iona College softball team was knocked out of the the 2015 MAAC Softball Championship after a pair of losses Thursday at Demske Sports Complex. After a victory over Manhattan yesterday, the Gaels were upended 6-2 by second-seeded Fairfield in the quarterfinal round. Fifth-seeded Siena then eliminated Iona with a 2-1 win later in the day.
After two scoreless innings of action, the Gaels got on the board first in the top of the third with an RBI single by senior Allison Hand, scoring freshman Courtney Miller. After the Stags went down in order in the third, sophomore Kristen Turner began the top of the top of the fourth with a solo home run to left field, her 12th of the season, extending the lead to 2-0.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Fairfield would cut its deficit to one, scoring on a Molly Roche sacrifice fly. Both teams escaped jams to preserve the 2-1 contest heading into the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fairfield took its first lead of the game after Lauren Filicia hit a two-run single into center field. An RBI single by Sammy Ruffalo would extend the Stags lead to 4-2. The rally would continue with Tori Reed’s two-run home run extending the lead to 6-2 and completing a five run sixth inning.
Fairfield’s Lauren Falkanger (10-10) was awarded the win, retiring nine batters in the quarterfinal. Junior Jordan Courage (5-12) took the loss, allowing three earned runs.
Against the Saints, with the game scoreless through six innings, Siena’s Stephanie Viggiano hit a one-out triple, putting her in scoring position. After a lineout to the pitcher for the second out, Paige Lloyd connected on a home run to center, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead.
Turner began the seventh inning with a single to left field. An RBI single by Miller cut the lead to 2-1. After a ground out forced the second out of the inning, Siena hurler Amanda Gatt retired the final batter of the game.
Gatt got the victory for the Saints, pitching seven innings, allowing five hits, while fanning six batters. Redshirt sophomore Christine Costello (6-9) gave up only three hits and also struck out six batters in a losing effort.
The Gaels conclude the 2015 campaign with a record of 16-28 overall.