NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Seton Hall defeated Iona in the series finale at City Park on Sunday afternoon, 14-3. The Pirates had 17 hits compared to four for the Gaels.
GAME SUMMARY
Both Iona and Seton Hall scored a pair of runs in the first inning. The Pirates got their first score on a double to left center from Matt Toke. He then came around to score for the second run on a fielding error that extended a single by Tyler Shedler-McAvoy. The Maroon & Gold offense began with senior
Fran Kinsey hitting a sacrifice fly to right field that pushed senior
Joe DeMaio across the plate. Rookie
Jake Field then grounded out to short, scoring senior
Niko Switalla.
The Pirates took a lead it wouldn't relinquish in the top of the third inning. They'd score 12 unanswered runs through the eighth inning. The truly decisive frame was the top of the fifth. Seton Hall scored six runs on seven hits, taking an 11-2 edge at the time. It scored its final three runs in the eighth.
Iona's third run came in the bottom of the ninth inning with Kinsey scoring following a one-out triple to right center.
Seton Hall's Christian Del Castillo and Shedler-McAvoy each had three hits. Combined the duo had three extra-base hits, six runs batted in and four runs scored.
Switalla, Kinsey, Field and sophomore
Michael Gorman each had one hit for Iona. DeMaio, sophomore
Sam Punzi and rookie
Shaun Hillis reached base on a walk.
Freshman
Paul Sullivan suffers the loss for the Gaels. He went the opening 4.1 innings and allowed nine runs, eight earned on 11 hits and one walk. Freshman
Drew Helmstetter, sophomore
Quentin Crudo and junior
Jason Antalek appeared in relief.
Seton Hall's David Festa started and went four innings surrendering two earned runs on three hits and three walks. Blake Espinal came on in relief in the fifth inning and earned the winning decision. Sean Miller and Corey Sawyer also appeared for the Pirates.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona pitchers surrendered a season-high six doubles and two triples against the Pirates.
- DeMaio extended his on-base streak to nine games. It is the third longest streak by an Iona player this season.
- The Gaels have had at least three walks in six straight games.
- Kinsey's triple is the first by a Gael hitter since Mar. 8 against Hofstra.
- Iona has struck out more than 10 times in four of its last five games.
UP NEXT
Iona baseball returns to action on Wednesday, Apr. 3 hosting Stony Brook at City Park. First pitch between the Gaels & Seawolves set for 3 p.m. You can follow the game via
live stats.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Baseball: Twitter and YouTube (Email Updates)
