CHARLOTTE, NC – An 11 strikeout performance from UNC Charlotte starting pitcher Josh Maciejewski helped the hosts upend the Iona College baseball team 6-2 in the second game of a three-game series this afternoon.

Maciejewski tossed 6.0 innings of work behind 11 strikeouts and just one walk with five hits and one unearned run allowed to lift the 49ers (2-0).

The Charlotte offense quickly jumped ahead to allow a lead for the starting pitcher as an infield hit from Drew Ober scored Tommy Bullock with one out. The 49ers added two more runs in the bottom of the third as Reece Hampton scored on a sacrifice fly before Jackson Mims scored on a fielding error following a passed ball.

Sean Breen helped cut into the deficit for the Maroon & Gold (0-2) with a RBI single to score Fran Kinsey in the top of the sixth, the lone run surrendered by Maciejewski. Charlotte increased the lead to 5-1 before Breen notched his first homer of the season on a full count in the top of the eighth.

Bullock scored his third run of the game for Charlotte in the bottom half of the next inning to close out the scoring for the afternoon. Carson Pinkey closed out the contest for the host by tossing a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts.

Sam Punzi recorded his first three collegiate hits this afternoon for Iona, joining Sean Scales for a three-hit performance. Breen finished his afternoon with a pair of hits towards two RBI.

Out of the bullpen, Stephen Hansen logged 3.0 innings of work with no unearned runs given up and two strikeouts. Kyle Ackley came in for the final two outs to record back-to-back punch-outs.

The finale of the three-game series is set for tomorrow at 1 pm.