NEW ROCHELLE, NY– The Saint Peter's softball team (7-37, 3-21 MAAC) fell 6-1 and 2-1 to Iona (19-23, 14-10 MAAC) in a Friday conference doubleheader at Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval.
Danni Forrester launched a team-best fourth home run of the season in the opener, while
Olivia Christopher recorded the only multi-hit performance of the day.
Morgan Lipansky (3-10) was credited with the loss in game one, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing six earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. The Peacocks were held to just four hits, with
Lauren Czerwinski, Carlee Charles, Olivia Christopher, and
Danni Forrester each recording one.
Forrester's solo homer accounted for Saint Peter's only run in the opener.
In the nightcap,
Brielle Coppola (1-12) pitched a complete game, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out five.
The Peacocks again totaled four hits in game two, with Christopher leading the offense with a 2-for-3 performance and a double.
Paige Seemon finished 1-for-3 with the only RBI of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
After retiring the top of the Saint Peter's order, Iona struck first with a pair of doubles in the opening inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Danni Forrester answered in the third, launching a solo home run to left-center to tie the game at 1-1.
The Gaels responded in the bottom half of the inning with a one-out, two-run homer down the left field line to regain the lead, 3-1.
Iona added three insurance runs in the sixth. A hit by pitch, stolen base, and double brought home one run, while a walk, another stolen base, and a single extended the lead to 6-1.
The Gaels retired the Peacocks in order in the seventh to secure the opener.
GAME TWO
The nightcap remained scoreless through the first 2.5 innings, with both teams combining for just three hits.
Iona broke through in the third after a Peacock fielding error put a runner on second. A groundout moved her to third, and a single brought her home for the game's first run, which was unearned.
The Gaels added another run in the fifth with a leadoff single and a two-out infield hit to take a 2-0 lead.
Saint Peter's cut the deficit in half in the sixth.
Olivia Christopher led off with a double up the middle, and
Paige Seemon followed with an infield single to drive her in and make it 2-1.
The Peacocks retired the side in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to break through in the seventh, as Iona completed the doubleheader sweep.
UP NEXT
Saint Peter's concludes the series with Iona on Sunday at Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval at 1 p.m. The series finale will be streamed on Iona Insider.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
