Iona Scores 6-5 Walk-off Victory Over Manhattan
MAAC Sports
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Pinch hitter Sydney Dimon’s short pop up to shallow right fell between two players and drove home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as the No. 3 seed Iona College softball team scored a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win over No. 6 seed Manhattan College in an opening round game of the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship at Fairfield University’s Alumni Stadium.
With Iona trailing 5-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, Gaels rightfielder Eileen McCann led off with a double, and moved to third on Kristen Turner’s single. Turner was replaced by pinch runner Ashlyn Morris, and then the Gaels loaded the bases when Sarah Schutz was hit by a pitch.
After a Manhattan pitching change, Iona’s Katie Jansson ripped a liner to shortstop that was snared by the Jaspers’ Stephanie Reinhardt for the first out. Brianna Schauer followed with a key blow as she ripped a two-run double to tie the score at 5-5, scoring McCann and Morris and setting the stage for Dimon’s heroics.
Dimon’s pop up was just over first base on the outfield grass and attracted two Manhattan fielders, who were indecisive about making the catch. The ball fell to the ground and scored Schauer with the winning run.
After a scoreless first three innings, the Gaels (21-21) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Kelsey Long stroked a two-run double, and Allison Hand hit a run scoring single.
Manhattan (22-28) came back with two runs in the top of the fifth as Jenn Vazquez walked with the bases loaded to score one run, and Andi Stallard delivered a sac fly for another RBI. The Jaspers scored three more runs in the top of the sixth, as Vazquez delivered a two-run double, and Emily Cutler scored when Amanda Paxson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Iona reached Manhattan for 12 hits as Turner had three and Hand and McCann each had a pair of safeties. Paxson was 3-for-3 at the plate for the Jaspers. Jordan Courage took the victory for Iona after relieving starter Carly Argyle, while starter Kate Bowen absorbed the loss for the Jaspers.
The win advanced the Gaels to a 9 a.m. contest on Thursday with second-seeded Fairfield, while Manhattan will play at 4:30 with an opponent still to be determined.