Austin, Texas - The Iona College softball was defeated in its second contest of the NCAA Regional. In the second game of the day, the Gaels fell to East Carolina by the score of 3-0. With its second loss in the Regional, Iona is eliminated from the NCAA Championship Tournament.
East Carolina scored all three of its runs in the top of the fourth inning. Christina Merrida led off the frame with an infield single and advanced to second on an error. After a sacrifice bunt advanced Merrida to third, Marina Gusman-Brown followed by reaching on a fielder's choice that scored Merrida for the game's first run. Sissy Jimenez then sent a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right field for a two-run shot to close out the scoring.
Iona's best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fifth, when the Gaels had runners on first and third with two outs. East Carolina's Faith Sutton ended the threat by inducing a ground out. Sophomore 1B Allyssa James and junior C Melanie Gettins recorded the lone two singles for the Gaels.
Sutton improved to 13-7 with her 14th complete-game effort of the season, adding five strikeouts against two walks. Sophomore Sarah Jackson (18-8) took the loss for the Gaels, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one in seven innings of work.
With the win, East Carolina advances to a second elimination game tonight at 7:50 p.m. Central against Texas. The host Longhorns dropped a 9-8 decision to BYU earlier Friday afternoon in a winner's bracket contest.
Iona concluded its season with a record to 28-26.