RADFORD, VA - The Iona University baseball team came up short in the rubber game of its weekend series at Radford, falling 11-6 at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium. Despite the loss, Iona scored five runs in the fourth inning to take the lead but the Highlanders answered, scoring multiple runs in the fourth and fifth to pull away from the Gaels.
Game Summary
Alex Hunt got the start for the Gaels and in his first inning of work picked up two strikeouts, keeping the game scoreless through the first inning. However, the Highlanders got on the board in the second, scoring three runs with two coming on a two-run homer from Garrett Pancione. With the bases-loaded and Radford looking for more runs, Hunt buckled down with his third strikeout of the inning to keep the deficit at three runs.
The Gaels managed to get a run back in the ensuing inning courtesy of a two-out RBI triple from
Phoenix Bowman, scoring
Jordan Overton who reached on a double. The Highlanders kept Bowman stranded at third following an inning-ending strikeout from starter Luke Vongoedert.
Now trailing 4-1, the Maroon & Golds bats came alive in the fourth, scoring five runs on three hits while taking advantage of an error.
Nick Forney drove in the first run via an RBI walk and
Jake Field followed up by ripping a two-run RBI double down the left field line, tying the game at 4-4. Later in the inning, Bowman delivered his second RBI hit of the game, this time driving in two runs on a single to left, giving Iona a 6-4 lead.
Radford quickly responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and two more runs in the fifth to regain the lead, 9-6. In relief
Sean Davis pitched a scoreless sixth inning and
Clark Eder tossed a scoreless seventh to keep the deficit at three runs but unfortunately Iona only managed two hits after the five-run fourth inning.
Radford managed two more runs in the bottom of the eighth as the Highlanders went on to win the rubber game, 11-6 on Sunday afternoon.
Notable Nuggets
- Hunt struckout a career-high seven batters in the loss
- In relief, Eder struckout a career-best four batters between the seventh and eighth inning.
- With two more RBI's Field finished the weekend with five hits and 7 runs batted in to lead the offense in their opening series.
- Bowman and Jayson Gonzalez each added two hits to pace the Gaels at the plate.
Up Next
The Gaels travel to UNC Wilmington where they'll play a total of four games beginning on Friday, February 24. Iona will take on Georgetown twice and UNC Wilmington twice during the four-game weekend.
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, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
