Softball yet to find consistency in conference play, drops midweek matchup against Iona

By Cassandra Ercoli, Sports Reporter

The Canisius Golden Griffins dropped their midweek doubleheader against the Iona Gaels to begin the second half of conference play on Tuesday in New Rochelle, N.Y.

After taking two of three games against St. Peter’s last week to claim their first conference win, the Griffs sought to chase the Gaels, who sat close above them in the conference standings. Wins on Tuesday would have inched the Griffs closer to a .500 conference record.

Instead, it was all Scarlet and Gold in New Rochelle, where the Gaels took both games with scores of 8–2 and 5–3. 

In Game 1, Rachael Morales launched a leadoff home run that sparked a seven-run spurt by the Gaels. The run was capped off by another home run from Hailey Guerrero in the third inning. 

After giving up five runs, Canisius starting pitcher Olivia Manchester was pulled after two innings of work, finishing with just one strikeout on four hits. Sophomore Mikaila Obenrader finished the remaining four innings, surrendering the homer to Guerrero. Obenrader ended her outing with four strikeouts, three hits and three runs. 

Mia Preuhs pitching (Photo by Tom Wolf)

The Griffs’ only offensive showing came in the top of the fourth, where a Bella Martin single and fielder’s choice brought in two runners across the plate. The Griffs were getting their contact, but not enough power. 18 of the Blue and Golds’ outs were split evenly amongst flyouts and groundouts. Meanwhile, Iona pitcher Melissa Gordon struck out two Griffs while also walking two batters and hitting another two.

In Game 2, the Griffs continued their trend of resilience after dropping the opening game. Like many of their other series, the young squad showed some fight before losing another close ballgame. Canisius jumped to a 1–0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Bailey Alatorre single that brought in Ella Johel after she reached base on a leadoff hit. 

Iona quickly responded with a three-run bottom of the first before the Griffs clawed back to a 3–3 tie via a Johel sac fly in the second and a fielding error by the Gaels in the third. 

After a back and forth contest, Iona scored two runs on a single in the fourth that eventually led to the runner reaching home on a sac fly and the Gael’s third home run of the series in the fifth. Iona pitcher Allison Hoppe held Canisius scoreless after the third inning, giving up just one hit for the remainder of the game. 

Now halfway through their conference schedule, the Griffs are due to play two of the conference’s top squads in Marist and Mount St. Mary’s in the coming weeks. With some work to do, the Blue and Gold will look to steal games where they can in hopes of sneaking into a playoff spot. 

Canisius will begin their tilt against Mount St. Mary’s when they return home this weekend for three games at the Demske Sports Complex. Doubleheader action is expected to begin at noon on Saturday, with the series finale set for noon on Sunday.