NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College softball program fell to Weber State and UC Riverside on Sunday afternoon. The Gaels combined three runs on the day, anchored by senior shortstop Katie Newton who ended the day with two hits and two runs batted in.
GAME ONE: Weber State 3, Iona 2
The Maroon & Gold jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Newton singled down the right field line to score sophomore right fielder Marisa Gergel and senior leftfielder Ashlyn Morris.
Weber State got one run back in the fifth inning using a leadoff single by freshman Takesha Saltern as the rally starter. She stole second base and then crossed the plate when junior Molly Horne doubled in the gap.
The Wildcats finally bypassed the Gaels in the seventh inning, again using a leadoff single from Saltern to canonize the win. In a mirror image of the fifth inning, Horne came to the plate and drove in runs, this time bashing a game-winning homerun.
The Gaels had one baserunner reach base in the bottom of the seventh but fell short of a late-inning comeback.
Sophomore Alana Evans pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and seven walks. She struck out seven and stranded 11 runners on base. Freshman centerfielder Rebecca Gabert, freshman designated hitter, and junior Courtney Miller each had one hit.
GAME TWO: UC Riverside 9, Iona 1
The Highlanders bashed out 11 hits and nine runs in a convincing defeat of the Maroon & Gold on Sunday afternoon. UC Riverside tagged freshman Marnie Skinner allowed six earned runs on 10 hits and six walks. Sophomore Jessica Harkness came in relief and pitched one-third of an inning.
Senior first basemen Kristen Turner, Morris, and sophomore Kimberly Chiapparelli each had one base-knock in the defeat. The lone run was scored by Morris when Gergel grounded into a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the first inning.
The Maroon & Gold return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 14 against Bryant and UC Riverside.
