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Iona University Athletics

Drew Helmstetter
Stockton Photo Inc.
4
Iona College ION 0-1
5
Winner Charleston COFC 1-0
Iona College ION
0-1
4
Final
5
Charleston COFC
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Iona College ION 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 6 2
Charleston COFC 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 X 5 6 2

W: Lucas, B. (1-0) L: Hansen, Stephen (0-1) S: Price, J. (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jonathan Stanko

College Of Charleston Sneaks By Iona Baseball

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC – The Iona College baseball program competed hard but lost its season-opening game to the College of Charleston at the Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point, 5-4. Redshirt sophomore third basemen Jake Liberatore stood out for the Maroon & Gold with three hits and two runs scored for the leadoff position.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels began the season with three runs in their first turn at-bat. Liberatore singled up the middle and left fielder Brian Picone followed it up with a full count walk. Sam Punzi, in his customary three-spot, drove home both runners with a double to centerfield. He'd then cross the plate on an fielding error by the Cougars.

The College of Charleston chipped away against Iona starter Stephen Hansen. The got an unearned run across the plate in the bottom of the second with McLendon Sears doubling home Ari Sechopoulous after he'd reached base on a fielding error.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Maroon & Gold Preseason All-MAAC selection had to work around a runner on second with nobody out. Hansen got a strikeout and a flyout, but Sechopoulous hit a home run over the right field fence on a 2-0 pitch to tie the game at three.

The Cougars took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. Donald Hansis hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Harrison Hawkins who opened the frame with a triple. Sears followed it up with a double to centerfield, plating Sechopoulous with the eventual game-winning run.

Liberatore gave the Maroon & Gold a spark in the top of the seventh with a one-out round-tripper to left field. The Gaels then put runners on first and second with one out but couldn't capitalize. Iona ended the game going one-two-three in the eighth in ninth innings.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Hansen takes the loss going 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned on five hits and two walks. He struck out three batters. Drew Helmstetter relieved Hansen and went 2.2 innings allowing just one hit and striking out one.
  • Liberatore finished 3-for-5 with two runs, one runs batted in. He had a single, triple and home run.
  • Punzi went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and a single run scored
  • The bottom four of the Gaels batting went a combined 0-for-16 with seven strikeouts.
  • The College of Charleston was propelled by Sechopoulous going 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs batted in and two runs scored. Sears went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs batted in.
  • Brooks Lucas gets credit for the win going 2.2 innings of relief surrendering one run scored on three hits. He struck out four Gaels. Josh Price pitched the ninth inning for the save.

UP NEXT

Iona baseball plays a pair of games tomorrow. First the Gaels face off against Maryland at 11:30 AM and that's followed by a second game against Charleston at 3:00 PM. Live stats are available for both games, and tickets are available for the contest against the Cougars.

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)



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