NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College softball team dropped the opening pair of contests at the Santa Clara Invitational, falling to Dartmouth 7-2, and Colgate 4-0.
GAME 1: Dartmouth 7, Iona 2
A slow start put Iona in the hole in the opening game of the Friday’s double-header at the Santa Clara tournament. The Gaels found themselves down five funs before they even approached the box for the their first hacks; Dartmouth poured on the runs in the opening frame, crossing the plate five times via three hits and an error.
Sophomore Jessica Harkness began the game for the Maroon & Gold, and managed to make her way through five innings after the struggles of the first. She finished the game allowing seven runs, four earned, on 10 hits and three walks.
Senior Christine Costello came in relief, pitching two shutout innings.
The Gaels had five hits in the game, two coming via the big bat of junior Katie Newton. The shortstop got her team on the board in the bottom of the second with a homerun, her first of the season. Newton drove home her second run of the game with a single up the middle in the sixth, bringing home Costello.
Taking the loss, Harkness falls to 1-2 on the season.
GAME 2: Colgate 4, Iona 0
The top five in the Maroon & Gold batting order all contributed at least a hit apiece, but the offense could not bust through.
Iona had a chance in the top of the first with Costello and freshman Marisa Gergel standing on the third and second with two outs, but Newton couldn’t drive them home. Another stranded scoring chance came in the fourth with Turner and Costello being left in scoring position; senior Sarah Schutz and junior Kelsey Long both struck out swinging.
Senior Jordan Courage started the game in the circle, going 4.1 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Freshman Alana Evans came in relief, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Iona left seven runners on base over the course of the game.
On day two of the Santa Clara Tournament, the Gaels will take on the host at 4:00 pm, and Dartmouth for a second time at 8:00 pm.