TEANECK, NJ – The Iona College baseball program had its three-game winning streak snapped at Vince Naimoli Field on Wednesday afternoon as the Fairleigh Dickinson survived a furious comeback. The Knights defeated the Gaels, 12-11, despite the Maroon & Gold scoring nine runs over the final four innings.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona's
Chris Dodrill the start for the Gaels and went one inning and allowed one earned run on a home run by FDU's Tom Ruscitti.
After the Gaels went down in order in the top of the second inning, the Knights added onto the scoreboard in the bottom half.
Ryan Martin came on in relief and Fairleigh Dickinson hopped on him for a single and home run to make the score 3-0. The round-tripper was batted by Tony Socci. Martin settled down and got a strikeout, but a pair of hits resulted in another Knight crossing the plate to make it a four-run deficit for Iona.
The Maroon & Gold cut the deficit by two in the top of the third.
Luca Lotito was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Liberatore walked to make it first and second. The Knights made a pitching change, but
Brian Picone took the first pit from the new hurler and singled to right field to score Lotito.
Jake Field double to right field, scoring Liberatore, but Picone was gunned down at the plate for the third out.
Fairleigh Dickinson bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. It was second and third before Martin got a much-needed strikeout. Kyle Huber singled to center field to score James Donlon and Ruscitti. Iona escaped further trouble with Martin picking off Huber off second base.
Over the next two innings Iona fell behind 12 to 2. The Knights teed off in the bottom of the fifth inning scoring five runs on two hits, two walks and a fielding error. Socci and Ruscitti each hit home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Not going out quietly, Iona scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Field and
Sam Punzi were hit by pitches to make it first and second. With two outs,
Stephen Furman singled to left field to load the bases.
Will Jennings delivered a huge two-out double to right field, clearing the bases.
Iona continued to shrink the deficit in the top of the seventh.
Nick Forney singled to begin the frame, and Picone walked on a full count. With two outs, head coach
Paul Panik inserted
Derek Becker as a pinch hitter. He walked, bringing up the Gael catcher. Punzi singled to right field on an 0-2 pitch, plating Forney and Picone.
Owen Christy, another pinch hitter, singled to right field, plating Becker, making the scored 12-8.
The Gaels went one-two-three in the eighth, but they would not go quietly in the night.
Jim Pasquale singled and Becker walked to put two runners on with one out. After a Punzi fly out, Christy banged his first collegiate home run to pull Iona within one. All wasn't over; Jennings doubled down the left field line to put the tying run in scoring position. Unfortunate for the Gaels, Jesse Bloom ended the game with a strikeout.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona has eight home runs this season. Last year, the Maroon & Gold did not hit their eighth home run until April 19 at Niagara.
- Nine different Iona players had at least one hit. Christy and Jennings each had a team-high two hits. Other team leaders are Becker with two runs scored and Christy driving in four.
- Iona's 11 runs scored is a season-high.
- The Gaels have had double-digit hits in three straight games.
- The Maroon & Gold batters where hit by three pitches for the second time this season.
UP NEXT
Iona's next three games are against neighborhood foe Fordham beginning on Friday, March 6. The Gaels can follow the action at Jack Coffey Field via
live stats.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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