NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Senior center fielder Fran Kinsey led the Iona baseball team to an 11-4 victory against the Rider Broncs on Sunday afternoon. Iona's veteran had four hits, four runs scored, three runs batted in and three doubles to lead the Maroon & Gold offense. The Gaels secured two of three from the Broncs on the weekend and improved to 3-6 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.

GAME SUMMARY

The Maroon & Gold scored in each of the first four innings. Rookie Jake Field hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Kinsey in the first inning. After the Rider Broncs tied the game in the top of the second, senior Joe DeMaio drove home junior Brian Picone with a triple down the right field line in the home half. Then the Maroon & Gold broke it open.
 
With the Gaels already holding a 2-1 edge, Iona turned around its order. Leadoff hitter senior Niko Switalla hit double down to the right field line and scored DeMaio. Kinsey followed it up with his second run producing hit, a sharp single up the middle. Sophomore Michael Gorman entered the batter's box with the bases loaded and singled through the left side, starting the carousel and pushing Kinsey across with Iona's fourth run. The final run of the inning came on a groundout by graduate Jon Budesa.
 
Iona scored five runs in the second inning on eight hits. It still left two baserunners in score position.
 
Rider scored one unearned run in the top of the third inning. In the bottom of the third, the Maroon & Gold put a three-spot. The first four Gaels in the frame reached base. Kinsey had a two-RBI double over the left fielder's head that scored DeMaio and Switalla. Junior Stephen Furman drove home Kisney with a two-out single to centerfield.
 
Budesa led the bottom of the fourth inning with a double down the left field line. He was then pinch ran for by rookie Daniel Palermo, who came around to score on a Switalla sacrifice fly to left field.
 
Neither team scored in the fifth and sixth inning. In the seventh, both Rider and Iona pushed one across the plate. In the home-half, Kinsey hit his third double with two outs to deep center field. He was drive home on the next pitch thrown to sophomore Sam Punzi, who rocketed a line drive up the middle.
 
Freshman Hunter Sibley pitched the final inning and allowed one earned run on two hits. He struck out a pair of Broncs.
 
Switalla had two hits, two runs, two runs batted in and a double. Punzi had two hits, two walks, one run scored and one RBI. Furman and Forman also had a pair of hits, combining to drive in a pair.
 
Rookie Paul Sullivan gets credit for the victory, taking over with two outs in the fourth inning. He went 3.1 innings and allowed just two hits and one run. Junior James Sharkey started the game and went the opening pair of innings surrendering one run on three hits. Rookie Drew Helmstetter relieved Sharkey and pitched 2.2 frames and allowed the one unearned run while striking out three.
 
Rider had three players with two hits; Mike Ionta, Jack Peterson and Richie Tecco. Broncs starter CJ Hirschy earns the loss going one-plus inning surrendering four earned runs on six hits. Rider used seven pitchers in the game.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• The Maroon & Gold hit .441 overall as a team in the game, and a whopping .400 with two outs. They also hit .611 with runners on base and .538 with runners in scoring position.
• Iona tied a season-best with five doubles. The set a new season-high with three sacrifice flies.
• Kinsey set two new individual single-game best benchmarks with four runs and three doubles. He tied single-game highs with four hits and one triple. Furman also had four hits on Mar. 17 against George Washington.
• Six Gaels currently have a team-best six multi-hit games; Field, Gorman, Kinsey, Palermo Picone, and Punzi.
• Over Iona's last four games, Kinsey is hitting .467 and reaching base at a .500 clip. He has three extra-base hits, four runs scored, seven total hits and just one strikeout.
• Field over his last four games is hitting .364 with four hits, three runs batted in, one double and one triple. He has also walked three times.
• Sullivan has a team-high three wins this season.
• Iona has won four of the last six against Rider.

UP NEXT

Iona's next game is a non-conference contest against the Albany Great Danes on Tuesday, Apr. 16 at Varsity Field in Albany, NY. The Maroon & Gold's next MAAC series against Niagara starts on Friday, Apr. 19 at newly renovated Bobo Field in Lewiston, NY. Follow the action via live stats.

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