The Iona softball team is well-placed to qualify for the MAAC tournament as they currently sit in fifth place in the MAAC regular season standings.  

The team was one game away from the MAAC championship game last season but ultimately lost 4-7. Their current record of 7-5 is tied with Marist College, the team in fourth place and are 2.5 games ahead of Saint Peter’s who are seventh and the first team out of the playoffs currently.  

The Gaels will currently be playing in the opening round of the MAAC tournament but can cement their position in the postseason or improve their position as they play some key games to round out the regular season.  

Iona facees Manhattan College twice on April 29, Saint Peter’s University twice on April 30, Hofstra University in a one-off game on April 30, Marist College on May 5 and Siena College on May 6. All these teams are around the Gaels in the MAAC standings to give the Gaels a chance to improve but other teams could also catch  up.  

The softball MAAC championships are scheduled for May 10-13 with the venue to be decided.  

Recently, the Gaels split the series 1-1 against Quinnipiac University and Fairfield University.  

Iona won the first game against Quinnipiac University 4-0 as Kara Zazzaro pitched a scoreless game and runs from Brianna Bailey, Kaylin Flukey, Jamie Sheeran and Haley Weaver were enough for the win. In the second game, the Gaels lost a close game 6-5.  

Against the Stags, Iona won the first game 3-2, with runs from Hannah Werth, Kenadie Gonzalez and Destiny Nardello and a four-hit, two-run game from Zazzaro was enough for the win.  

The baseball team, despite significant improvement from last year, is currently does not qualify for the MAAC tournament. The team currently holds a record of 9-27 overall and 5-7 in MAAC play. They sit just a game behind Mount St. Mary’s University who is currently  in sixth place and the first in the MAAC tournament places currently.  

The Gaels finish the season with a three-game series against Marist College, Rider University, Niagara University and Fairfield University with two one-off games against St John’s University in between these matches.  

Jake Field has led the Gaels offence this season averaging .386, scoring 28 runs off 51 hits and 8 home runs. Nick Forney has also contributed hitting .281, scoring 21 runs from 36 hits and 17 RBI’s. The Gaels offence has been solid but they have struggled on defence and pitching with none of the pitchers  having a positive win-loss record and the lowest ERA of a pitcher who has played more than 10 games being Carl Kuentzel’s 4.41.