NEW ROCHELLE, NY –The Iona College softball picked up its first win of the 2016 season Sunday morning in the conclusion of the UNCG Invitational Tournament. The Gaels avenged an earlier loss to Youngstown State by stomping the Penguins in the second go-around, 11-4.
Freshman Kimberly Chiapparelli began the frame with a walk. Junior Katie Newton then reached base on a bunt single, advancing the rookie to third in the process. After Newton stole a base, junior Ashlyn Morris singled to the left side and drove in the first two runs for the Maroon & Gold. Following a walk by freshman Marisa Gergel, junior Kristen Turner loaded the bases with a one-bagger to the shortstop.
Following a force out, junior Christine Costello flight to right field, allowing Gergel to cross the plate. Junior Kelsey Long then doubled to center, driving in senior Sarah Schutz and Turner from the bases.
It remained and a tight lead for Iona until the sixth inning when six more runs crossed the plate to essentially hammer in the final nail of the Penguins payback.
Once again, Chiapparelli started the inning reaching on an error, and then Newton reached base on a bunt single. Gergel drove in the first run with a single to the left side, and soon after Turner contributed her first RBI of the season.
Costello stepped up the plate and notched a two-bagger to right center, allowing Turner and Gergel to cross the plate. Long and senior Briana King then added in two RBI singles to cap off the Gaels’ highest scoring inning of the young season thus far.
Iona finished the game with 14 hits, recording 11 of them with runners on base. The Maroon and Gold batted eight-for-15 with runners in scoring position, and five-for-six with a runner on third and less than two outs.
Senior Carly Argyle began the game head coach Melissa Inouye, pitching four innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out three batters. Costello replaced Argyle in the fifth, and allowing just one hit in the final three innings of the contest.
Newton was a sparkplug at the top of the order, registering three hits in five at-bats. Gergel, Turner, and Long all had two hits.
The Maroon & Gold will next take to the diamond at the USF Under Armour Invitational on Friday, March 11. Over the course of the weekend, the Gaels are slated to matchup against Detroit, Southern Illinois, Central Michigan, Green Bay, and Western Michigan.