NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University baseball team rallied from a four run deficit on their way to a 10-6 victory to even up the series on Saturday afternoon. Six different players recorded RBI's, helping the Gaels to the come from behind victory over Niagara at City Park.
Game Summary
After a scoreless first inning on the mound from
Carl Kuentzel, Niagara managed to chase the lefty starter for four runs in the second. Max Giordano opened the scoring on a two-run homer and an RBI double along with a fielder's choice gave Niagara the 4-0 lead.
Iona got a run back in the bottom half of the frame that began on a lead-off double from
Luca Lotito and
Josiah Ragsdale stayed hot, driving in Lotito for Iona's first run. Trailing 5-1,
Jake Field brought the Gaels within two following his 14th career triple that drove in
Anthony Zollo and
Nickolas Mora on the play. Field owns the record for most triples in a career and is only three away from the all-time doubles record.
The Gaels took their first lead of the afternoon after scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Inning began with Ragsdale picking up an RBI single and
James Kemp tied the game on an RBI groundout. Later in the inning, Zollo delivered the go-ahead hit, scoring
Chris Mariani on a single to put Iona in front, 6-5.
Jake Field extended Iona's lead on a fifth inning lead-off homer, the ninth on the season for the senior captain. The Gaels pushed their advantage to three runs after Kemp singled the other way to score Lotito, giving Iona a 8-5 lead.
In relief
Teo Torrado kept Iona's lead well intact, working four scoreless innings on the mound on his way to earning his third win of the season. Torrado worked around minimal traffic and ended his afternoon on an inning ending strikeout while exiting the game with Iona leading 8-5.
The Gaels tact on key insurance runs in the seventh and eighth on RBI's from Mora and Ragdale to push the Maroon & Golds lead to 10-5, after eight innings of play.
Eric Gialloreto helped seal the victory for the Gaels as Iona took the middle game over Niagara 10-6, to level up the series.
Up Next
Iona and Niagara will face off in the series finale tomorrow at noon from City Park. Prior to the game coach
Conor Burke will honor Iona's three seniors with a pregame ceremony.
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