April 15, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Erin Frank hit a home run in both ends of the doubleheader, while Shannon Logan stroked five hits and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of game one as the softball team got back into MAAC tournament contention with a sweep of Iona College. The Stags won the opener by a 7-6 count in nine innings, and completed the sweep with a 5-4 victory in game two.
The Stags built a 4-1 lead after two innings of the first game, highlighted by a two-run home run by Frank in the first inning. Tara Hansen also sent home a run in the first inning with an RBI single. Pitcher Cagney Ringnalda surrendered a first-inning run, but was nearly untouchable over the next five innings. The junior retired 16 straight hitters, but saw that streak end in the top of the seventh inning.
The Gaels recorded four straight singles to score a run, and keep the bases loaded for Iona second baseman Lolli Mills. She pushed the visitors ahead with a grand slam to right center field to make the score 6-4. Fairfield did not relent and tallied two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, courtesy of an RBI single from Logan and Molly Harris. Fairfield won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning when Logan doubled to start the frame. After Ringnalda was intentionally walked, Harris sacrificed the runners to second and third. Breanne Morschauser lofted a sacrifice fly to right center field, which allowed Logan to score the game-winning run.
In the second game, the Stags jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, including a run in the opening inning. Logan drove home that first run with a base hit through the left side. The team added three runs in the third frame, as Frank hit a two-run homer and Ringnalda hit a sacrifice fly to score Logan who tripled after Frank's home run. Frank homered in her third straight game, dating back to the second game of last Thursday's second game against Providence College.
Iona used another big inning to get back into the game, scoring four runs in the fifth inning to tie the score at 4-4. Laura Stott hit a two-run double, and Lexi Garbowski hit a two-run triple to provide the Gaels offense. Fairfield tallied the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning after Tara Hansen bunted for a base hit. She came home when Frank doubled off the center-field wall to make the score 5-4. Hansen made that run stand up, and earned her fifth win of the year. The senior allowed six hits and struck out five batters in seven innings of work.
