POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Iona College softball freshman Sarah Jackson was named the MAAC's Co-Rookie of the Year for her performance during the 2009 campaign. Jackson also joined teammates Erin Kyle and Melanie Gettins as All-MAAC Second Team Selections.

Jackson posted a 10-11 record with a conference leading 1.62 ERA. The win total tied for third highest in the league. Jackson struck out 138 batters in 125.0 innings a clip of 7.7 per seven innings pitch or the No. 3 total of all MAAC pitchers. She also ranked second among her peers complete games (16), shutouts (5), batting average against (.220) and WHIP (Walks and hits per inning, 1.12).

Jackson's shutout total tied the third highest single season total in school history and was one shy of former Iona standouts Alison Higgs' and Amy Burdette's six recorded in 2004 and 2002 respectively. Her 1.10 strikeouts per inning ratio was the fourth in school history while her 138 strikeouts was the fifth highest. After one season, Jackson ranks at the top of the Iona career list in ERA (1.62), second in strikeout ratio, seventh in strikeouts, and tenth in shutouts.

Gettins led the Gaels and finished ninth in the MAAC with a .316 batting average. She posted 36 hits in 114 at bats with nine doubles, two triples and a home run. The triple total was tied for fourth most in the league while the nine doubles was sixth overall. Gettins drew 18 walks (tied for fourth in the MAAC) and had an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .837 (eighth in the league).

Kyle was third on the squad with a .277 batting average. Her 33 hits were the second highest total on the squad. She scored a team-best 19 runs and tied for the team lead with three home runs.  Kyle also hit two doubles and drove in 11 runs as while starting all but one game for the Gaels in centerfield.

All five Gaels that were eligible earned MAAC All-Academic honors.  Juniors Courtney Christie and Laura Hackimer were joined by Gettins, Kyle and classmate Tierney Markou on the list.  To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team, a student athlete must complete two semesters at their institution and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale.  The remaining nine players on the roster are freshman and will be eligible for All-Academic awards in the 2010 campaign.