NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College softball program lost the first game of the Seton Hall University Pirate Invite on Friday afternoon to the host Pirates, 5-3.
Senior leftfielder Ashlyn Morris, senior first basemen Kristen Turner, junior catcher Tori Danner and sophomore Alana Evans each had two hits in the defeat.
Seton Hall got off to a fast start with three runs in the top of the first from senior first basemen Lauren Fisher who knocked out a three-run homerun.
Iona’s first run came in the second inning via an RBI single from Evans to score senior shortstop Katie Newton. The second tally came in the third as a result of cleanup slugger Danner doubling deep to centerfield to force Turner across the plate.
The Pirates got two insurance runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore designated hitter Destini Peck roped a double, her second hit of the game, and drove in a pair of teammates.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Maroon & Gold had its best chance to knot the game. Turner doubled down right field to score sophomore second basemen Hailey Thompson. Down two runs, Danner followed Turner up with a single to put runners on the corners with two outs. Newton ended the inning with a long fly out to left field.
Evans went seven innings on the rubber, striking out seven while allowing seven hits with five walks. She induced nine fly outs and five grounds outs.
Tomorrow the Maroon & Gold have a double-header against Brown and Hartford. The action begins at 10 AM against the Bears and concludes at 12:15 versus the Hawks.
