NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Following a disappointing day of competitive losses, the Iona College softball team looked to pick up their first win of the 2016 season on day two of the UNCG tournament. The Maroon & Gold offense would unfortunately sputter, leading to a pair of losses.
Youngstown State jumped out early against senior Jordan Courage, scoring four runs in the first, and two in the second. Courage’s outing ended in 4.1 innings, with six total earned runs allowed, and three strike outs.
Freshman Alana Evans came into the game to replace Courage, allowing one earned run in 2.2 innings pitched. The Rookie recorded four strike outs in her Maroon & Gold debut.
Freshman Marisa Gergel and junior Ashlyn Morris each had two hits and one RBI in the contest. Juniors Katie Newton and Kristen Turner each had two hits as to boot; overall, the four players at the top of the order had eight of the Gaels 12 hits in the game.
Iona scored once an inning over the course of the final four frames of the game.
Head Coach Melissa Inouye saw the offensive momentum her team had built up against Youngstown State continue into the opening of their second game of the day against host school, UNCG.
Gergel started the top of a first with a walk, and from there she was able to circulate the bases and score on a wild pitch.
That would the only run of the day for the Gaels. The Spartans would go on to score 10 runs, and the game would end in three innings as a 10-1 final.
Sophomore Jessica Harkness pitched the Maroon & Gold, going 5.1 innings, allowing seven earned run on 11 hits.
Iona wraps up the UNCG Invitational Tournament tomorrow against Youngstown State.