NORFOLK, VA - The Iona College baseball team opened up its season on the road against 2021 C-USA champions Old Dominion at Bud Metheny Stadium. The Gaels managed to score first in the 2nd inning, but four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning gave the Monarchs the edge in their 4-2 victory. Senior
Paul Sullivan got the start on the mound for the Maroon & Gold and only allowed 1 hit in 4.1 innings to go along with a career-high 8 strikeouts. Today's game marked the first non-conference opponent Iona baseball has faced since March 11th, 2020.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona's first run of the season came on an RBI groundout to third base from junior
Jim Pasquale scoring sophomore
Jaz Burton from second. In the bottom half of the inning, Sullivan struck out the side with all three batters going down swinging to keep the Gaels in front 1-0 after two.
In the bottom of the fourth inning with the score the same, ODU came within striking distance after the first two runners reached base on a single and a HBP. Sullivan however, managed to get out of the jam with a fly-out and two more strikeouts to get out of the inning keeping the Gaels in front after four innings of play. Unfortunately, in ODU's next turn at the plate, despite not recording a hit in the inning, the Monarchs scored four runs, three being unearned, taking advantage of three errors from Iona.
The Gaels stayed within striking distance led by a strong relief outing from senior Drew Hemstetter who went 3.2 innings while only allowing two hits and striking out three.
In the top half of the 8th inning after senior
Jake Field hit a one-out single and reached second after a walk from senior
Will Jennings the Gaels had the tying run come to the plate. With two down in the innings senior
Luca Lotito ripped an RBI single up the middle scoring Field from second and cutting ODU's lead to 4-2. Old Dominion managed to get out of the inning with a strikeout to stay in front and limit the Maroon & Gold's rally attempt to only one run and the Gaels couldn't get a runner on in the ninth as they'd lose by a final score of 4-2.
Despite the loss, Sullivan and Helmstetter were terrific on the hill, limiting Old Dominion, who led the country in home-runs last season to only three hits. At the plate, the Gaels only managed three hits as well, two singles from Lotito and another single from Field.
UP NEXT
Iona baseball is right back in action for game two of the series against Old Dominion at Bud Metheny Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2PM.
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