NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College softball team fell just short in a barn-burner at Donald E. Walsh field Thursday afternoon. The Fordham Rams eked out a 1-0 win in nine innings, spoiling the Gaels home-opening contest of the 2016 season.
Sophomore Jessica Harkness took the loss for the Maroon & Gold, despite going nine innings, allowing just one run on four hits with six strikeouts. The lone run for the Rams came in the ninth following a one-out single by Madison Shaw. A wild pitch propelled her to second, and the sophomore was able to score on a ground rule double by junior Stephanie Ferri.
Fordham began the game with graduate Rachel Gillen in the circle, and she went four innings, allowing one Iona hit and walk, striking out six. The winning pitcher, junior Lauren Quense, pitched five innings, striking out four in the process.
Iona stranded two runs on base in the fourth; junior outfielder Ashlynn Morris singled to the shortstop to begin the innings, and Turner was able to reach base on a walk. Shortstop junior Katie Newton came up with the runners on first and third, but was unable to drive home the runs, popping out to first after a long eight pitch at-bat.
After the Rams had scored the leading-run in the top of the ninth, the top of the Maroon & Gold order was able to put up a short rally that fell just short in their final at-bat. Sophomore Courtney Miller doubled down the left field line with one out, and was able to advance to third following a throwing error by the Fordham right fielder on senior Christine Costello’s sequential fly out. Turner stepped into the box only to be intentionally walked, and Newton was unable to drive-in the tying run, fouling out to the third basemen to end the contest.
Morris, Miller and Turner were the three Iona batters to register hits for Iona. Freshman Hailey Thompson was able to reach base once on a walk, and Turner got two free-passes.
Iona will begin the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season on Sunday, April 2 when the Monmouth Hawks visit New Rochelle, NY for a double-header. The action is set to begin at 12:00 pm.