Iona Wins 2012 MAAC Softball Championship
MAAC Sports
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - Iona College won its third consecutive MAAC Softball title after earning two victories in the championship round of the 2012 MAAC Softball Championship, held at Softball Park at Gartland Field on the campus of Marist College.
Iona forced a seventh and deciding game with a 3-1 win over Fairfield in game six. The Gaels scored one run in the top of the third inning as Deanne Algeo doubled to left field, allowing Allison Hand to score. The Stags later tied the game in the sixth inning as Kristen Filicia scored on a single by Alli Wigand to right center. The Maroon and Gold escaped going into extra innings for a second time this championship when Eileen McCann scored on a wild pitch and Alyssa Maiese score on an RBI single by Chelsea Sheen in the top of the seventh inning. Maiese pitched a complete game for Iona, striking out seven batters while improving her record to 17-10. Rae Ball took the loss, pitching 4.2 innings for the Stags.
Iona then earned its fifth overall MAAC Softball title with a 2-0 victory in game seven. The Gaels struck early, scoring both runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jodi Petersen scored on a wild pitch and Hand crossed home plate after Maiese grounded out to second. Sarah Jackson pitched the complete game and improved to 17-12 on the season. She recorded eight strikeouts. Trott closed out the year at 17-14 for Fairfield.
Iona earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I Softball Championship. The selection show will take place on Sunday, May 13 at 10:00 p.m., live on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network.