Siena Softball (10-8) picked up a pair of hard-fought wins over the Iona Gaels (5-14) Friday at Walsh Field, rallying for a 3-2 victory in game one before securing a 1-0 shutout in the nightcap.
 
Siena 3, Iona 2
In the opener, Gracie Goewey turned in a dominant performance in the circle, striking out 12 over seven innings to earn the complete-game win. She allowed just four hits and two runs (one earned) while throwing 94 strikes across 146 pitches to improve to 3-2 on the season.
 
Emma Petersen paced the offense with three hits, including a double and the game-winning RBI. Ella Milante delivered the biggest swing of the game with a two-run double, while Chloe Cummings scored the decisive run.
 
Iona struck first in the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a Siena error, and added to it in the sixth on a solo home run to go ahead 2-0. The Saints answered immediately in the bottom half, as Mckenzie Faherty and Goewey scored on Milante's clutch double to even the score.
 
Siena then completed the comeback in the seventh. Cummings worked a leadoff walk and came around to score on Petersen's walk-off double to right center, sealing the 3-2 victory.
 
Siena 1, Iona 0
The second game featured another stellar pitching effort, this time from Violet Marta, who tossed a three-hit shutout. She walked two and struck out three while efficiently navigating seven innings on just 80 pitches.
 
Siena manufactured the game's only run in the fifth inning. Lauren Melton singled and later moved into scoring position before Chloe Cummings reached to extend the inning. Petersen followed with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Melton for what proved to be the difference.
 
The Saints' defense backed Marta throughout, highlighted by a standout performance from Sarah Miller at third base, where she recorded eight assists.
 
Siena made the slim lead stand, holding Iona off the scoreboard over the final two innings to complete the sweep.
 
With the victories, the Saints improve to 10-8 overall, while the Gaels fall to 5-14. Siena will look to complete the series sweep when the teams meet again Saturday at noon in New Rochelle, NY.