Iona Tops Niagara, 3-1 in Nine Innings, in Game One of the 2010 MAAC Softball Championship
MAAC Sports
Buffalo, N.Y. - Second-seeded Iona College (26-24) earned a 3-1 nine-inning win over third-seeded Niagara University (21-21) in game one of the 2010 MAAC Softball Championship at the Demske Sports Complex on the campus of Canisius College.
In the top of the third, Niagara's Becky Zill knocked a home run over the left field fence. Iona tied things up in the bottom of the fifth when Jodi Petersen slid home on a sacrifice fly to left field by Erin Kyle.
After a half-hour rain delay before the top of the seventh, the juggernaut was finally broken in the bottom of the ninth as Petersen sailed a two-run homer to left field to win the game for the Gaels.
Iona's Sarah Jackson (16-6) earned the win, giving up five hits while striking out seven. Niagara's Julie DiMatteo (14-6) threw for 8.2 innings, and gave up seven hits while fanning two batters.
Iona will play the winner of today's game between #1 Canisius College and #4 Manhattan College in Game 3, which is slated for Friday, May 14, at 11:00 a.m. Niagara will play the loser of today's second game tomorrow at approximately 1:00 p.m.