TEANECK, NJ – The Iona College ventured on the road to local rival Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday afternoon and came away with a 5-3 non-conference victory. Strong relief efforts from junior
Jason Goetz, sophomore
James Gosweiler and senior
Antonio Velardi helped the Maroon & Gold get back on the winning track.
GAME SUMMARY
The Maroon & Gold took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior
Brian Picone led the game off with a single up the middle and circled around the bases and arrived at third on an errant pick-off attempt and stolen base. Senior
Niko Switalla walked with one out. He attempted a steal of second base and as a result, Picone was able to score on a throwing error by the Knight catcher. The Gaels ended up with the bases loaded and one out, but FDU starter Chris Quijano was able to strikeout graduate
Jon Budesa and sophomore
Michael Gorman to end the threat.
The Knights had three of their five totals errors in the top of the first inning.
Fairleigh Dickinson took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Salvatore Monticciolo hit a solo homerun to tie the game. The Knights then had back-to-back hits and Tony Socci hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Brett Mercier and give his team a 2-1 lead. FDU added to its lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Gaels had two fielding errors, resulting Mike Veit crossing the plate.
Sophomore
Michael DeSanti started on the hill for the Gaels and went the opening four innings allowing three runs, two earned on 60 pitches. He had three strikeouts.
The Maroon & Gold got back to within one in the top of the fourth inning. Rookie
Daniel Palermo singled up the middle to score fellow freshman,
Jake Field. Iona knotted the game in the top of the sixth inning. Gorman laid down a bunt that was fielded by the pitcher and on his throw to first, Field raced home to bring the game to a stalemate.
Iona completed the comeback for good i the seventh inning. Junior
Stephen Furman took aim at the first pitch he saw doubled to dead center and senior
Joe DeMaio scampered home with the leading run. Sophomore Same Punzi followed up with another two-bagger, giving Iona the 5-3 edge it'd hold to the end.
The trio of Goetz, Gosweiler and Velardi shut the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights over the final five innings. Goetz threw 2.1 scoreless innings registering two Ks and allowing zero hits. Gosweiler hurled 1.2 innings of hitless relief leading up to Velardi, who retired the Knights in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his third save of the season.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Gosweiler's appearance was the first in a victory this season. He has recorded a strikeout in four straight appearances.
- Goetz's 2.1 innings pitched is a career-high. He lowered his 2019 ERA from 5.06 to 3.52. Like Gosweiler, it was the first time he appeared in a win this season.
- Field broke out of a short 1-for-9 skid with his fourth multi-hit game this season. It is his first career multi extra-base hit effort. Field's two doubles was part of Iona's total of four; it's the most extra-base hits in a game for the Gaels since Mar. 19 against LIU Brooklyn when they had seven.
- Picone and Switalla each had one stolen base.
- Normal starter senior Fran Kinsey did not play. Budesa started in his place and went 1-for-4 with a single.
- Fairleigh Dickinson used six pitchers in the game.
UP NEXT
Iona returns to City Park tomorrow, Wednesday, Mar. 27 against the University at Albany. First pitch between the Great Danes and the Gaels is set for 3:00 p.m. You can follow the Maroon & Gold via
live stats.
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