KNOXVILLE, TN - The Iona College baseball team concluded their weekend series against #15 Tennessee, falling in 7 innings by a final score of 12-2, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. For the Gaels, junior
Nick Forney drove in both runs on a single to right field in the sixth inning scoring seniors
Jake Field and
Will Jennings.
GAME SUMMARY
Making his second career start, freshman
Nick Chiaia recorded both of his strikeouts in the first inning but not before the Vols managed to score three early runs as they wouldn't relinquish the lead. In their next turn at-bat, Tennessee added five more runs off two home-runs and an RBI double to take an 8-0 lead through two innings of play.
After driving in Iona's lone run in Friday's contest, senior catcher
Brad Polinsky led off the third inning with a double to center field for his first hit of the season. However, Polinsky would be stranded at second and the Vols would add to the lead in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four more runs extending the lead to 12-0.
The bullpen tandem of freshman
Matt Zguro and junior
Gavin Bates held Tennessee scoreless in the fourth and fifth inning as Zguro and Bates in 2.1 innings of work, struck out a combined three batters in their relief appearances. Bates's two strikeouts in the fifth inning were the first of his career in the Maroon & Gold.
In the top of the sixth inning, Iona loaded the bases up with Field, Jennings and sophomore
Jaz Burton drawing walks all with two outs, setting up Forney's opposite field RBI single. Forney's two-run RBI single were the second and third runs batted in as a Gael.Â
Iona's third and final hit of the game came from freshman
Matt Shuhet who lined a single to right center field for the first hit of his career.
Tennessee added one more run in their last plate appearance as the Vols would win 12-2 sweeping the weekend series from the Gaels in Knoxville.
UP NEXT
Iona baseball returns to action next Saturday for a doubleheader in their home opener against Albany at City Park. Game 1 of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 PM with game two to follow shortly after.
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