NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The bats could not come alive Wednesday afternoon for the Iona College softball team. Junior Katie Newton recorded the only two hits for the Gaels in a tough 3-0 non-conference loss to Sacramento State.
Senior Jordan Courage pitched well for Iona, going 5.1 innings allowing just two earned runs. However she could not match the dominance that sophomore Celina Matthias brought to the circle for Sacramento.
The second-year slinger went the distance, striking out nine, allowing just two hits and six Gael base runners. Newton picked up a single in the second and sixth innings; sophomore Courtney Miller and Junior Kelsey Long reached base twice on walks and hit by pitches.
The Hornets reached the scoreboard first in the fourth inning on an error committed by Newton at the shortstop position. The two earned runs batted in by Sacramento State came in the fifth when sophomore second basemen Zamari Hinton and junior Kailey Olcott drove home runs on a pair of one-baggers.
Freshman Alana Evans replaced Courage in the sixth inning to quell and Hornets rally, retiring the two batters she faced on fly outs.
Iona gets right back into the action on Thursday, March 24 when they take on Saint Mary’s in a double-header midweek showdown.