LAS CRUCES, NM – The Iona College baseball led New Mexico State for six innings before falling to the Aggies, 7-5. The Gaels had a pair of home runs from
Jake Liberatore and
Tyler Cannon in the loss.
GAME RECAP
The game began with a bang for the Maroon & Gold as
Jake Liberatore started the game with a home run over the left field fence on a 1-1 pitch. Liberatore has two home runs in the lead off spot for Iona this season.
The Aggies tied the game in the bottom of the first with a solo home run from Nick Gonzales but Iona jumped back in front come the top of the second inning.
Jake Field led the inning off with a double to right center, and he'd score immediately on a home run blasted by
Tyler Cannon. The Gaels put two more runners on in the inning but stranded them on base.
In the top of the fourth inning, Iona worked some magic with two outs to take a 4-1 lead.
Ryan Casey and Liberatore hit back-to-back singles to second base.
Brian Picone stepped up in the two-hole and hit a single that scored Casey. The Maroon & Gold couldn't capitalize more because the Aggies gunned down Liberatore at third base.
The Aggies had a chance to tie it or take the leader in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a free pass began the New Mexico at-bats, Austin Duffy doubles to make it second and third. Kevin Jimenez hit into an error which brought two runs scored to make it 4-3. The Gaels and starter
Stephen Hansen danced out of trouble eventually stranding runners on second and third.
New Mexico starter Chance Hroch lasted five innings allowing four earned runs while striking out five. Eight of Iona's 11 hits in the game came against Hroch. The Maroon & Gold's Hansen threw six innings and allowed three runs, two earned. The Aggies had just five hits off him while striking out seven times. Entering the seventh inning, Iona held a 4-3 lead over New Mexico state.
Iona built upon its lead in the top of the seventh. The Aggies nearly managed to evade the Gael run by striking out a pair of batters who Picone and Vincente Mendoza began the frame with free passes.
Stephen Furman, who had ended the game an inning earlier, had a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Picone and make it 5-3.
Hansen was relieved on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning and New Mexico State pounced on the opportunity. After getting an initial groundout,
Drew Helmstetter surrendered a single and two walks to load the bases. Duffy hit a single to center field to tie the game at 5-5. Jimenez then had another one-bagger that plated Tristan Peterson to five the Aggies a 6-5 edge. Their last run came after Noah Haupt hit a one-bagger to field, scoring Duffy.
James Sharkey come on to relief Helmstetter and finished the seventh inning and pitched a scoreless eighth.
New Mexico's Alex Reyes earned his first save of the season throwing the last two innings scoreless. Iona had one hit in each of the eighth and ninth inning. And managed to get the tying run on base in its last at-bat.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Liberatore hit 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot with a home run and two singles.
- Furman was 2-for-2 off the bench with one RBI.
- Iona hit an effecting 6-for-14 with two outs. The Gaels stranded eight runners on base.
- New Mexico State had four players with two hits; Duffy and Jimenez each had two runs batted in.
UP NEXT
The Gaels play two against New Mexico State tomorrow, Saturday, February 22. The first game from Presley Askew Stadium begins at 2 PM EST. There is
live audio,
live video, and
live stats during all the games. Fans attending the game can get tickets at the
New Mexico State box office.
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)
