JOHNSON CITY, TN – The Iona College baseball program dropped a heartbreaker in its season-opener against East Tennessee, 4-3. The Gaels held a late lead before the Bucs rallied with a late home run. Junior Stephen Hansen was strong in the start for the Maroon & Gold, going 7.0 innings and two runs, one earned on eight hits while striking out four.

GAME SUMMARY

East Tennessee scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ethan Cady walked and stole second base. With two outs, he attempted a steal of third base and was able to take that extra left-hand turn to score on a Maroon & Gold fielding error.
 
The Bucs added an additional run in the bottom of the seventh. Noah Hill led the inning off with a double and would go on to score on an RBI single down the right field line from Cade Gilbert. The Gaels then escaped a first-and-third, nobody out jam. The Gaels got two quick outs with junior Stephen Furman gunning down an attempted base stealer while Hansen notched a crucial strikeout. The inning came to a close with a harmless groundout to second base.
 
Iona had a chance to take the initial lead in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Michael Gorman hit a triple to right center to lead off the frame. Senior Joe DeMaio struck out, bringing up the top of the order for the Gaels. Graduate Jon Budesa hit a ground ball to the ETSU third basemen which resulted in a fielder's choice with Gorman being tagged out at the plate.
 
The Gaels also left a pair of base runners on base in the sixth inning. With two outs, Kinsey was hit by a pitch and senior Niko Switalla walked. The Bucs made a pitching change and were able to escape the jam.
 
The Maroon & Gold broke through offensively in the top of the eighth inning. Following a fourth pitching change for the Bucs, DeMaio led the frame with a walk. Budesa flew out to the centerfield, but Kinsey followed up with a gap-seeking RBI double into right center. Switalla drew his second walk to make it first and second with one out. Sophomore Sam Punzi entered the box in the cleanup hitter spot and was struck by a pitch, loading the bases. With the bases juiced, freshman Jake Field got ahead in the count and delivered a two-run single to left field, scoring Kinsey and Switalla.
 
The Gaels entered the eighth inning with a 3-2 lead. Senior Antonio Velardi came on in relief of Hansen and retired the first batter he saw. Cullen Smith earned a one-out single and then Jackson Greer batted the deciding two-run blast to give the Bucs a 4-3 lead. The Gaels went down in order in the top of ninth.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Gorman's triple in the second inning was his first career hit with the Gaels. As a freshman he had gone 12 at-bats without a base knock.
• Hansen's effort is the second longest of his career. He has thrown through seven innings just twice in his career, with the first coming last season against Fairfield.
• Seven different players had a single-hit for Iona. Switalla and DeMaio earned walks.
• The two-through-four batters in the ETSU order went 7-for-12 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.
• The Bucs used six pitchers in the game. Colby Stuart gets credited with the win for ETSU. He wne 0.2 innings and allowed one hit. James Giambalvo got the save.

UP NEXT

Iona plays the second of three games against the Bucs. First pitch from Thomas Stadium is set for 2 p.m. and fans can follow live stats.

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