NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Stephen Hansen is the story. The junior pitcher hurled a complete game shutout against visiting Seton Hall at City Park on Friday afternoon. Hansen struck out seven Pirates, had just one walk, and worked around seven hits. It is the first nine-inning complete game by a Gael hurler since May 24, 2017. Hansen began the game with a one-two-three inning and set the tone for the afternoon. Seton Hall stranded one batter in the second and a pair in the third before the Maroon & Gold took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half.
Senior Joe DeMaio was camped on third and rookie Hunter Sibley was on first. Sibley came into the game to replace junior Brian Picone who had been struck by a pitch. DeMaio scored an unearned run on a wild pickoff throw from Seton Hall pitcher Rickie DeVito. He was attempting to catch Sibley off the bag.

Iona increased its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. DeMaio started the rally with a single up the middle and Sibley reached base on a throwing error by Seton Hall's third basemen. Senior Niko Switalla hit a base-knock and loaded the bases. Sophomore Sam Punzi bulleted a sharp grounder through the left side to make it 2-0. DeVito lost control and walked senior Fran Kinsey and rookie Jake Field back-to-back, forcing home Sibley and Switalla to have the scoreboard read 4-0 in the Gaels favor.

After two hitless innings, Seton Hall had two hits in the sixth but stranded a runner on base. The Pirates returned to the norm of going down in order in the seventh. Iona added its final run in the bottom of the seventh with Switalla crossing the plate on a double-play grounder by Kinsey.

Seton Hall stranded two runners on base of the final two innings. The Pirates had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, but the game came to a close on a 5-4-3 double play.

Punzi and DeMaio each had two hits. Switalla and DeMaio each crossed the plate twice. All three of the RBIs and walks for the Maroon & Gold came from the heart of the Gael order.

DeVito started on the mound for the Pirates and went five innings throwing 87 pitches. He allowed all eight Gael hits and four runs, two of which are earned. Iona struck out six times against him. Blake Espinal went the final three innings and surrendered one earned run.

Seton Hall's offense had seven hits and one walk. Steve Grober had two hits in three at-bats.

• The last pitcher to throw a complete nine-inning game was Bill Maier '17 against the Manhattan Jaspers on May 24, 2017. The Maroon & Gold won that game, 5-1.
• Hansen's effort is a career-best and team best this season. His earned run average dropped from 4.79 before the game till 3.83. Hansen was won his last two starts against Seton Hall and Fairfield (Mar. 23), going 16.0 total innings allowing two earned runs and striking out 16 batter.
• As of Friday, Hansen is the fifth player in the MAAC this season pitch nine innings in a game.
• Friday was the first shutout dished out by an Iona pitcher or pitching staff.
• DeMaio is currently on a season-best seven game hitting streak. It is tied for the longest streak this season previously set by Punzi.

The Maroon & Gold continues its three-game home stand against Seton Hall on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game can be followed via live stats. Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
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