Softball Swept at Iona

In the first meeting since the 2010 MAAC Championship game, the Iona College softball team picked up where it left off last May, sweeping Canisius at Rice Oval Field in New Rochelle, N.Y., on Sunday afternoon. The host Gaels took the first game by a score of 5-1 before scoring a win in the nightcap by a 5-0 count. Iona is now 15-16 overall and 5-2 in MAAC play, while the Golden Griffins slipped to 15-17 overall and 3-5 in league action.

In the first game, Canisius jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when junior Lizzy Gatto drove in a run with an RBI-single to center. Iona answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead for good after Jodi Peterson roped a single to right with two outs that drove in two runs. The Gaels added a single tally in the fifth and then posted two more insurance runs in the sixth en route to the win.

Sophomore pitcher Sarah Jackson improved to 9-6 in the circle after she went the distance and allowed just one run on six hits while striking out seven and walking one. Junior Caroline Main took the loss for the Griffs after she went 6.0 innings and allowed five runs, all earned, on 10 hits to go with four strikeouts and a walk.

Senior Emily Helbig had two hits in the loss for the Griffs, while fellow senior Paige Freiberger recorded her 10th double of the year.

In the second game, Canisius was shutout for the sixth time this season, falling to Iona 5-0. Alyssa Maiese allowed just four hits and fanned six Canisius batters in the victory for Iona, and she also helped her own cause with an RBI-single in the sixth that saw four runs score for Iona.

The Gaels took an early 1-0 lead in the second against Canisius starter Jen Consaul, who took the loss after she allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits while striking out three and walking three. Maiese made the score 2-0 with her RBI-base hit and Katie Jansson knocked in a run with a double in the sixth.

The Griffs will return to action with a home-and-home non-conference series this week, starting Tuesday, April 19, when the team hosts cross-town rival Buffalo at the Demske Sports Complex. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. The same two teams will meet April 20, at Buffalo's Nan Harvey Field, with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

Game Notes: The Griffs now lead the all-time series with Iona 38-10... Canisius fell to 12-5 this season when scoring first after losing game one... Senior Lauren Hope saw her 11-game hit streak come to an end in game one... Helbig is hitting a team-best .550 (11-for-20) in MAAC play this season... Consaul now leads this year's staff with 17 appearances in the circle for the Blue and Gold.

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Players Mentioned

#36 Jen Consaul: P; 5' 9"; Freshman

#16 Paige Freiberger: IF; 5' 4"; Senior

#47 Lizzy Gatto: OF; 5' 1"; Junior

#33 Emily Helbig: IF; 5' 9"; Senior

#28 Lauren Hope: OF; 5' 2"; Senior

#10 Caroline Main: P; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#36 Jen Consaul
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: P

#16 Paige Freiberger
: 5' 4"; Senior
: IF

#47 Lizzy Gatto
: 5' 1"; Junior
: OF

#33 Emily Helbig
: 5' 9"; Senior
: IF

#28 Lauren Hope
: 5' 2"; Senior
: OF

#10 Caroline Main
: 5' 10"; Junior
: P