FAIRFAX, VA – The Iona College baseball program earned its first win of the season on Friday afternoon with a 6-2 decision against the George Mason Patriots at Spuhler Field. Senior pitcher
Stephen Hansen tossed a gem in the series-opener going eight full innings allowing two unearned runs on six hits while striking out nine.
Tyler Cannon and
Stephen Furman each had two hits. Vincente Mendoza and Furman each had two runs batted in.
Jake Field scored two runs for the Maroon & Gold.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona went quietly in the top of the first inning but George Mason came out threatening in their first at-bat. Jack DeLongchamps and Craig Miles Jr. both singled to make it first and second with nobody out. Hansen hunkered down however, getting a fielder's choice, strikeout and flyout to end the inning.
The Gaels lit up the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Tyler cannon double to right field to lead off. Two Gaels were retired before
Luca Lotito walked on four pitches to make it first and second with nobody out.
Stephen Furman hit a groundball to the Patriot shortstop who committed a fielding error, allowing Cannon to score.
It was with two outs in the top of the third inning that Iona increased its advantage to two runs.
Jake Field worked a full count walk, and Cannon singled through to left field to make it runners on the corners. Mendoza peppered the right side again for a base knock, driving home Field to make the score 2-0.
While the Maroon & Gold offense was supplying a lead, Hansen was dealing on the rubber. The Preseason All-MAAC selection faced the minimum from the second through the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, heart of the Gael lineup made it a 4-0 Iona lead. Picone led the inning off with a double to left center and he came around to score immediately on a Field single. After the sophomore advanced to second on a wild pitch, flyouts by Cannon and Mendoza pushed him around the diamond to make it 4-0 halfway through the game.
The Patriots scored their two runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Hansen retired the first two batters before a pair of back-to-back singles by Corey Leadenham and Jackson Barrett. Hansen then struck out DeLongchamps, but a pass ball resulted in the leadoff hitter reaching base and the bags becoming loaded. Miles made the Gaels pay with a single to right field, making the score 4-2.
After a pair of quiet innings, the Maroon & Gold tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Sam Punzi started the inning off being hit by an 0-2 pitch. Lotito was behind him with a single to right field, advancing the Iona catcher to third. Furman then drilled a double down the right field line to score Punzi and make it 5-2. The Patriots made their second pitching chance of the game right after. Picone drove home Iona's last run of the day with a sacrifice fly to right field, pushing Lotito home.
Drew Helmstetter relieved Hansen for the bottom of the ninth inning and got the Patriots in order to secure Iona's first victory of the 2020 campaign.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Hansen threw 109 pitches over eight full innings. He struck out nine of the 30 batters that he faced on way to his first winning decision of the season.
- George Mason's Mason Posey suffers the loss going 4.2 innings allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and three walks.
- Friday was the first time Iona did not commit and field error in the game.
- Jake Liberatore currently leads the team with 11 hits. He stole his first base of the season on Friday.
- Mendoza has drawn a season-best six walks through eight games this season.
UP NEXT
Iona plays its second of three games against George Mason tomorrow, Saturday, February 29, at 2:00 p.m. Fans can follow the Maroon & Gold via
live stats and can watch via
ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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