WASHINGTON, DC - An early rally by the George Washington Colonials and some shaky defense by Iona put the Gaels in early 10-0 hole before ultimately falling to the host by a final of 15-7.
GAME SUMMARY
After the Gaels went down in order in the top of the first, Cade Fergus reached on a throwing error by
Derek Becker. Starter junior
Chris Dodrill walked the next batter and surrendered a three-run shot over the left field fence. Dom D'Alessandro continued the rally with a single before the Dodrill recorded his first out on a foul pop up. Becker found himself with another chance, but booted a grounder by Noah Levin to put runners on first and second. Two more George Washington runs came via a ground out and sacrifice fly, as the Gaels found themselves down early, 5-0.
The Colonials continued to roll in the second frame. After Dodrill allowed a double and walk, Steve Barmakian and Nate Fassnacht attempted a double steal and junior
Stephen Furman threw it wide, costing the Gaels their sixth run. Five straight hits later, George Washington had a 10-0 lead through two full innings. Rookie
Paul Sullivan relieved Dodrill in the third, surrendering one run in the third coming on a sacrifice fly. Dodrill completed his day throwing 64 pitches and allowing 10 hits, two walks and 10 runs, seven of which were earned.
The Gaels rallied some offense over the next four frames as Sullivan kept the Colonials off the scoreboard. In the top of the fourth, sophmore
Sam Punzi knocked in senior
Fran Kinsey after a single and passed ball. The sixth inning saw freshman
Michael Gorman single home Furman, and Becker follow it up with a two-run double to score senior
Niko Switalla and Gorman.
Iona loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning off pitcher Emmett Harkins but came away with only one run. Junior
Brian Picone opened the inning with a single but was erased at second on a fielder's choice. After a Punzi was hit by a pitch, Andrew Wheeler came on in relief for the Colonials, only to then drill Furman to load the bases. Switalla flied to left to score Kinsey and cut the Iona deficit to 11-5.
The Iona comeback was thwarted in the bottom of the frame, as junior reliever
Henry Conroy surrendered a three run shot to D'Alessandro to put the Colonials back up nine. The Colonials tacked on one more off Conroy in the eighth.
In the eighth inning, Picone hit a sac fly to score Becker and in the ninth, freshman
Shaun Hillis connected for his first career homerun.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona finished with 10 hits and four walks in the contest.
- Eight Gaels recorded at least one hit in the game, highlighted by a pair by Gorman and Becker
- In a strong relief appearance, Sullivan allowed one run on two hits, two walks and two strikeouts in four innings.
UP NEXT
Iona concludes it's three game set with George Washington tomorrow at 12 p.m. The game can be viewed on
ESPN+ and followed with
live stats.
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