NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Iona fell to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Fairfield twice at City Park on Sunday in a pair tightly contested pitching duels. The Stags stole game one on a Gael fielding miscue and one scoring inning in the nine-inning series finale befuddled the Maroon & Gold.
GAME ONE: FAIRFIELD 3, IONA 1
With the score 1-0 in Iona's favor, the Stags took to bat in the top of the sixth inning. Tom Ryan hit a ground-rule double with one out. He then advanced to third on a passed ball. Right after, Gael starter
Hunter Sibley got the Stag leadoff hitter Tim Zeng to strikeout looking. With the end of the inning in sight and just one out away, Justin Guerrera hit a ground ball that was booted by the Gaels, allowing the tying run to score.
Jack Gethings gave Fairfield the lead with a double to left center and then would eventually come around to score on a one-bagger from Anthony Boselli.
The Gaels brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning but were folded with a game-ending 5-4-3 double-play off the bat of freshman Daniel Palmero.
The Maroon & Gold got on the board and maintained a short lead with junior
Brian Picone hitting an RBI two-out single to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning. Palmero came around to score on the hit after having started the Maroon & Gold's two-out rally with a single to right field.
Sibley went the opening six innings for Iona. The rookie allowed four hits and struck out five batters. All three runs Fairfield scored against Sibley were unearned. Sophomore
James Gosweiler pitched one inning of relief in the seventh, needing just 12 pitches to retire the side in order.
Fairfield's starter Michael Sansone threw a complete game, surrendering just the lone run on five hits while striking out three. He threw 80 pitches.
Five different Gaels had one hit in game one: Picone, senior
Niko Switalla, sophomore
Michael Gorman, Palmero and senior
Joe DeMaio. Gethings had a game-high two hits to go along with one run and one RBI. Boselli and Ryan tallied Fairfield's other two hits.
GAME TWO: FAIRFIELD 3, IONA 0
All three of Fairfield's run came across to score in the top of the fifth inning. Iona starter freshman
Paul Sullivan threw a strong game but was befouled by three hits in the deciding frame. Dylan Reynolds began the inning with a double to left field. Catcher Mike Caruso reached base on a hit by pitch and Ryan singled to the pitcher to load the bases.
The Stags took the 1-0 lead on a RBI fielder's choice by designated hitter Tyler Gambardella. With two outs, Gambardella stole second and both he and Caruso scored on a tough-bouncing ground ball single to first base.
Iona's best chance to tie the game came in its last at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. Fairfield brought in its closer Nick Grabek, the Gaels made him work. He did get senior
Fran Kinsey to strikeout to open, but sophomore
Sam Punzi and Switalla both earned well-deserved free passes to bring the tying run to the plate. Freshman
Jake Field lined out to center fielder on the seventh pitch of his at-bat for the second out, and Gorman grounded out to third base to end the game.
Previous to Fairfield taking its lead, Iona had a wasted opportunity in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Gaels had runners on second and third with one out. Gorman hit a fly ball to right field and Punzi was gunned down a home attempting to tag and score. The Maroon & Gold also left a runner on base in the first, second and third innings.
Sullivan went 6.1 innings in the start. He allowed three runs on seven hits. Three Stags struck out against the freshman. Freshman
Drew Helmstetter pitched 2.2 innings of relief and surrendered just one hit and one walk while inducing two strikeouts.
Picone, Switalla, DeMaio, Punzi and junior
Stephen Furman had one hit each for the Gaels. The Stags used a trio of pitchers in the game. Trey McLoughlin gets the wining decision going the first seven innings allowing Iona's five hits. Ian Halpin held Iona in the eighth inning before Grabek got the save.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- The first game of the doubleheader was the first time Iona didn't draw a single walk in a game. There were also three strikeouts, tied for the second fewest in a single game.
- The Maroon & Gold were shutout for the second time all season in game two against Fairfield. The lone other time came against Indiana State on Feb. 24. The Gaels didn't have a single extra-base hit in both games on Sunday.
- Iona was caught stealing twice in the second game, tying a season-high.
- In game two, the Maroon & Gold defense had a season-best 15 assists. They committed one error.
- Sullivan's 6.1 innings pitched in game two is a season-best effort. His previous best was four innings in his last start at George Washington on Mar. 16.
- Last year the Gaels took two-of-three against the Stags in what was then the final road conference series of the season
UP NEXT
Iona has five games of the next seven days. It is on the road on Tuesday, Mar. 26 at Fairleigh Dickinson. On Wednesday, Mar. 26 the Gaels host Albany at City Park. It is the beginning of five game home stand with Seton Hall visiting over the next weekend.
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