NORFOLK, VA – After initially jumping out to a 5-0 advantage, the Iona College baseball team used extra innings to walk off on Sacred Heart this afternoon 6-5 at Norfolk State University.
In the bottom of 10
th inning,
Fran Kinsey led off with a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
Sean Breen reached at first during the next at-bat on a fielding error that placed Kinsey at third. With
Sean Scales intentionally walked to load the bases,
Niko Switalla lined out deep enough to left center field to score Kinsey with the winning run.
The Maroon & Gold (2-4) scored five runs in the first two innings beginning with a RBI single from Scales to score Kinsey. Following two singles to open the second inning, Breen earned a RBI infield single to score
Sam Punzi with Scales driving in his second run of the game on the next at-bat.
Lou Matarazzo capped off the run with a double to right center to score a pair.
The Pioneers (1-2) scored all five of their runs in just two innings as well starting in the fourth with two. With two outs and two on in the top of the fourth, Jake Frasca single through the left side to score the opening. Later in the inning, Stephen Thibault walked to score Dan Schock.
A three-run rally in the fifth helped Sacred Heart tied the game at 5-5 as Anthony Capozziello led off with a triple and scored on a throwing error two batters later. Schock was responsible for the two tying runs by driving in a pair behind a double to center field.
After four scoreless innings, Kinsey was able to set the table for Switalla to drive in the winning run in walk off fashion for the Gaels in the bottom of the 10th.
Scales went 4-for-5 on the afternoon towards two RBI and a run scored while Kinsey scored twice on two walks. Breen, Punzi and
Tyler Bruno all notched a couple of hits.
Vinny Martin earned the victory by logging the final two scoreless innings that included four strikeouts.
Iona returns to the diamond on Friday to start a three-game series at NC Central. Game one is scheduled for 3:00 pm from Durham, NC.