LEWISTON, NY – The Iona College baseball program won its fourth straight game on Friday afternoon against the Niagara Purple Eagles. It was a back and forth game at Bobo Field but the Iona bats powered the Gaels to a third straight MAAC win. The Maroon & Gold improve their conference record to 4-6.

GAME SUMMARY

Niagara started the game scoring three runs off Iona starter James Sharkey. A one out walk followed up by a single put two runners on for Purple Eagle cleanup hitter Joey Battaglia. The freshman hit a home run to centerfield to put his team up front early.
 
Iona answered with two runs in the top of the second inning. Sophomore Michael Gorman scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a one out walk. He was followed immediately by rookie Daniel Palermo who scampered home on a second errant toss by Niagara's starter, Tyler Howard.
 
In the home half of the second, the Purple Eagles regained a two run advantage over the Gaels. Joseph Tevlin led off with a double and was brought home with two outs by Dawson Bailey. Sharkey's outing was done after two innings for the Gaels. He faced 11 batted and struck out five but surrendered the four earned runs on four hits and one walk.
 
The Gaels took a 5-4 lead in the top of the third inning. Senior Fran Kinsey began the rally with a double to centerfield and was advanced to third on a RBI single from rookie Jake Field. With two outs, Palermo came to the plate and bashed a blast of the left field wall to put Iona in front. Gorman immediately followed the blast with a triple, but was stranded on base.
 
Both teams were retired in order in the fourth inning, but the scoring resumed in the fifth. The Maroon & Gold took a 6-4 lead with a solo home run off the bat of sophomore Sam Punzi. In the home half, the Purple Eagles hit their second three run home run of the game to regain the lead. Alex Zulia and Michael Gabriele led off the inning with a pair of singles. Rookie Drew Helmstetter was able to get the next hitter out, but Max Giordano hit the towering fly to put the home team back in front.
 
Helmstetter relieved Sharkey on the mound and went three innings surrendering just the run producing home run. He faced 14 batters, striking out two and walking one. Rookie Hunter Sibley replaced Helmstetter on the mound and carried the Gaels for the next 3.1 innings.
 
With Sibley on the mound, Iona regained itself took a lead that it wouldn't let go. With runners on second and third and one out, junior Stephen Furman hit a single up the middle that plated a pair and gave the Gaels back an 8-7 lead. In the top of the ninth inning, Kinsey hit what would prove an incredibly valuable insurance run with a solo home run to left field.
 
Come the bottom of the ninth, Zulia singled with one out. Senior Antonio Velardi entered the game and walked Gabriele placing the tying run on base. Battaglia singled to center field and loaded the bases. Giordano hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring one, and putting the tying run ninety feet away. Velardi barred down and got the final out, securing the 9-8 win for Iona.
 
Kinsey, Furman, Forman and DeMaio all had two hits. Furman and Palermo had two runs batted in. Sibley earned the win for the Maroon & Gold, his second of the season. Velardi finished the game for his fifth save of the season.
 

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Iona's home runs end a streak of 17 games without a round-tripper. It is the third multi-home run game and first since Feb. 23 vs. Marshall. The three home runs tie a season-best thus far.
• Palermo's home run was the first of his collegiate career. Punzi's blast is his first this season and third of his career.
• Iona has had eight-plus hits in three straight games. It is the second time this season the Gaels have done that this season.
• The Gaels did not win four straight games at any point last season. It is the first time since late 2015 they have won four straight.
• Over his last five games, Kinsey is 11-for-19 with eight runs scored, four doubles, one home run, and seven runs batted in.

UP NEXT

Iona and Niagara continue its MAAC regular season series tomorrow with a pair of games beginning at noon from Bobo Field.

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)

Tweet #ICBASE
Tweet #MAACBaseball
Tweet #GaelNation