NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University baseball team dropped the rubber game against Rider, losing 9-7 on Sunday afternoon at City Park. The Gaels saw a four run lead turn into a two run deficit after a late inning rally from the Broncs, but Iona answered, scoring twice in the bottom half of the eighth to even up the score. However, Rider plated two runs in the final inning to secure the series finale victory.
Game Summary
Iona's offense scored four runs across the game's first three innings that began on an RBI single from
Nick Forney. The Gaels extended their lead on RBI singles from
Anthony Zollo and
Jake Field while
Josiah Ragsdale gave Iona a 4-0 lead following a third inning RBI triple.
Clark Eder took advantage of Iona's early run support, pitching a career-high six innings and striking out a career-best six batters while only allowing a run. Eder picked up four strikeouts across his first three innings working around minimal traffic in the process. After surrendering his lone run in the fourth, Eder recovered, retiring the next six hitters he faced and despite Rider loading up the bases in the sixth inning, Eder got his final batter on the afternoon to ground out
Leading 4-2, Ragsdale delivered his second RBI triple of the game, this time scoring Forney on the play. Ragsdale leads the MAAC with seven triples on the season, and is currently three triples away from breaking the record for most three baggers in school history.
Rider changed the tide of the game following a five run eighth inning that gave the Broncs their first lead of the afternoon. Following an RBI single, John Volpe tied the game with a two-run RBI double and Brian Skettini put Rider in front on a two-run double.
Chasing two runs Iona climbed right back into the game, rallying for two-runs in the bottom half of the eighth to level the score.
Nickolas Mora and Zollo sparked the rally while Field and
Luca Lotito brought them into score on consecutive RBI's that tied the game at 7-7.
Rider broke through for two runs in the top of the ninth to break the tie for good. Socrates Bardatsos lined an RBI single for the go-ahead hit and Anthony Paskell provided an insurance run on an RBI single.Â
Unfortunately Iona couldn't bring up the tying run to the plate in their last plate appearance as Rider defeated Iona 9-7 to claim the weekend series.
Up Next
The Gaels will travel to Queens on Wednesday May 10 to take on St. Johns at 6:00 PM. ' Â
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