LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Softball took a doubleheader split with Iona to begin 2019 MAAC play Saturday afternoon, falling, 6-1, in game one, before posting a 5-0 shutout victory to end the day at the Siena Softball Field.
GAME ONE – Iona 6, Siena 2
Continuing an eight-game home stand that includes the start of its 2019 conference slate, Siena (5-13, 1-1) took an early lead to start the day, with sophomore Isabelle DeChiaro sending home freshman Yamila Evans, who began the inning with a double, home from second. The Gaels immediately answer, however, tying the game with a sacrifice fly to center field during the next frame. With the game knotted in the top of the third, Iona (5-15, 1-1) got the offensive firepower they needed to take the lead, with Jasmine Temple launching a three-run shot to left field. The big bats were not done in the outing, as Siena senior captain Madysen Cossack crushed her own big fly to right in the top of the third inning for her second of the season, putting the score at 4-2.
Rallying around a complete-game effort from reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week Kara Zazzaro, the Gaels proceeded to retire the next eight batters in order, plating two more runs off a throwing error at second and an RBI double in the process. Junior right-hander Maddie McMahon (3-5) took the loss for the Saints, striking out four batters and issuing three walks in four and one-third innings in the circle. The Red Bank, NJ native was relieved in the fifth for classmate Brooke Hughes, who closed the game by fanning six in two and two-thirds innings, tying a season high in doing so.
GAME ONE – Siena 5, Iona 0
Shortly after the conclusion of the first affair, Hughes (1-5) stepped back into the circle and picked up where she left off for the Saints, going the distance for just the second time in 2019 and earning her first win of the season. With a pair of strikeouts and four walks issued to her name, the Chandler, AZ product allowed just three hits and led the Saints to their second shutout in the last three contests played, with help from her defensive unit and the Green and Gold offense.
After quickly loading up the bases to begin the game, DeChiaro grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Evans to come home and score the first run of the game. After Hughes and the defense stranded a pair of Iona batters to start the second, the Saints strung together back-to-back scoring plays to pull out to a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Neysa Ouellette sent home freshman Sabrina Vargas on an RBI single up the middle, while Evans doubled down the left field line to score Ouellette and extend her current hitting streak to four games.
The Saints' bats struck again in the bottom of the third, with Vargas batting in freshman Natalie Marchese with a double to right field, and senior Jessika Jaime sending in Vargas with an infield single in the gap at short on the next at-bat. Hughes then aided the team's defense in leaving five Gaels on base in the game's final three innings to cement Siena's first MAAC win of the season, leaving them in a three-way tie for third place after the first day of league action.
Following the doubleheader split, the Saints return to the Siena softball Field to host MAAC foe Fairfield Sunday afternoon, with doubleheader action scheduled for Noon and 2 PM start times.
