NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University baseball team fell short to Niagara 8-5, in the series opener at City Park on Friday afternoon. Following a five-run fifth inning the Gaels found themselves in front 5-1, but the Purple Eagles rallied to regain the lead on there way to earning the MAAC victory.
Game Summary
The first few innings of play saw both pitchers dealing as Iona starter
Joey Kasper kept Niagara off the board through four innings. Kasper picked up multiple strikeouts in the first and second inning on his way to a season-high six for the game in five innings of work.
After Niagara opened the scoring on a sac-fly, the Gaels quickly responded in the bottom half of the frame. With runners on first and second,
Josiah Ragsdale put Iona in front on one swing with his second home-run of the season. Later in the inning with the bases loaded,
Jake Field drove in a runner on a sac-fly and the fifth and final run came on an opposite field single from
Luca Lotito, making it 5-1 Gaels.
The Purple Eagles responded in the sixth, scoring three runs on an RBI triple and double to pull within a run. Later in the frame Niagara had a chance for more but
Michael Untracht picked up an inning ending strikeout to strand the bases loaded and keep Iona's lead intact.
Niagara managed to level the score on a RBI single from Matt Ward and an eighth inning single from Kelly Corl turned out to be the go-ahead hit in the game. Leading 6-5 Niagara picked up two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to take a three run lead.
The Gaels managed to bring up the tying run to the plate but Niagara pulled out the series opening victory following a game-ending fly-out.Â
Up Next
Iona will aim to even up the series with game two from City Park scheduled for the 1:00 PM.
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