NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Siena Softball ended the 2023 regular season on the road against a pair of opponents who needed to win in order to advance to the postseason. For the second straight day, the Saints (32-19, 11-9) were subject to a road sweep, this time at the hands of Iona (18-29-1, 10-10), who 4-3 and 15-5 wins on its Senior Day at Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval in New Rochelle, New York on Saturday.  

Iona 4, Siena 3

With the Saints having locked up a postseason berth and Iona needing to win both games to clinch, the teams entered a rematch of last season's MAAC Semifinal battle. The Gaels got on the board first with an RBI ground out in the bottom of the first and used an RBI single in the third to extend the lead.

Siena fired back with an RBI double to right center from junior Mikala Fletcher that allowed classmate Isabella Pardo to score in the top of the sixth, but Iona had the answer with another RBI single in the bottom of the inning. The Saints offense finally came alive in the top of the seventh, with senior Shannon Bonewit and graduate student Sabrina Vargas stringing together RBI singles to knot the game at three. The home team would get the last laugh, however, ending the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

Both teams recorded seven hits, with Pardo gathering multiple knocks to lead the team offensively. Graduate student Ava Fitzmaurice (13-7) struck out three in the complete game loss in the circle, while Iona's Kara Zazzaro (10-7) fanned eight in the complete game win.

Iona 15, Siena 5 (5)

Needing a win to ensure its spot in the 2023 MAAC Tournament, Iona dominated the nightcap offensively, dealing the Saints their third run-rule loss of the season and putting up the most runs on them that any opponent has this year. A first inning RBI single to get Iona on the board paved the way for five runs in the third inning and an overwhelming nine runs in the fourth.

The Saints answered back with five runs of their own in the top of the fifth, with sophomore Ashley Giampolo scoring on a bases-loaded walk, senior Angelina Stile driving in Vargas on an RBI single, and Fitzmaurice singling up the middle to plate Ulrich. The damage had already been done, however, with Siena entering the postseason having lost its final four regular season contests.

The home team held a 15-7 hits advantage, with Pardo again logging multiple hits to lead the way. Senior Nicole Patille (2-4) took the loss with two strikeouts in her first action since April 18, while redshirt-freshman Alissa Eimont (1.2) and senior Allison Speshyock (0.1) also saw action. Iona got another complete game victory in the circle, this time from Samantha Rieb (3-12), who struck out a pair.

Siena will head to the postseason for the sixth straight year, this time as the No. 5 seed. The Saints will commence the 2023 MAAC Softball Tournament in Buffalo, New York against No. 4 Fairfield at the Demske Sports Complex on Wednesday, May 10 at 1:30 PM.