Argyle Leads Iona Past Fairfield, 6-3
MAAC Sports
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Carly Argyle was the star on the mound and at the plate as she led No. 3 seed Iona College to a dramatic 6-3 victory over No. 2 seed Fairfield in the 2014 MAAC Softball Championship on Thursday.
Iona withstood rain delays of 75 and 95 minutes to score the victory, its second in the Championship. The Gaels move on to face the winner of Game Four, which pitted Monmouth vs. Marist, in the winner’s bracket, on Friday.
Argyle pitched 3.2 innings in relief of starter Jordan Courage, and struck out three and allowed just one hit to improve her record to 13-8. Argyle also delivered a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to tie the score at 3-3 and send the game into extra innings. Argyle then singled in the top of the eighth as the Gaels (22-21) rallied for three runs which proved to be the difference.
The Gaels trailed 3-1 entering the top of the seventh and final inning. Brianna Schauer hit a single up the middle to start the Iona rally with one out. Argyle then pinch hit for designated player Sydney Dimon, and drilled the-first pitch over the left field wall for two runs and a 3-3 tie.
Iona was able to load the bases again before the end of the inning, but Fairfield’s Rae Ball, the MAAC Pitcher of the Year, came in as a reliever to fan Rookie of the Year Kristen Turner to end the threat.
Fairfield was unable to threaten in the bottom of the inning, and it was decided at that point to delay the game due to a steady rain that had increased throughout the game.
The rain subsided after a delay of 95 minutes and allowed the game to resume. Sarah Schutz singled to open the top of the eighth for the Gaels, and advanced to second when Brianna Schauer reached on a fielder’s choice. Argyle then delivered a single to left to load the bases. Katie Newton singled to left, scoring Schutz, and Schauer came home on an error. Allison Hand’s single to left scored Argyle to give Iona a commanding 6-3 advantage.
Argyle put Fairfield down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Fairfield had taken a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth as Tori Reed delivered a two-run double and Lauren Filicia had a run-scoring sacrifice fly. The Stags (20-21) carried the lead to the top of the seventh before Iona’s dramatic comeback.
The game was delayed at the start for 75 minutes due to rain.