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Iona University Athletics

Jayson Gonzalez At Bat
Stockton Photo Inc.
5
Iona IONA 0-1
8
Winner Western Carolina WCU 1-0
Iona IONA
0-1
5
Final
8
Western Carolina WCU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Iona IONA 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 7 0
Western Carolina WCU 3 1 0 3 0 0 1 0 X 8 12 1

W: Dylan Wheeler (1-0) L: Payamps, Andrelys (0-1) S: Jonathan (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Brian Duane / Assistant AD / Athletic Communications

Iona Baseball Drops Season Opener at Western Carolina, 8-5

CULLOWHEE, NC— The Iona University baseball team opened the 2024 campaign on Friday afternoon with an 8-5 loss to Western Carolina. Six different Gaels contributed a hit in the season opener and four tallied a run batted in against the Catamounts. Graduate student Garret Gray led the Maroon and Gold with a pair of hits and two runs batted in.

GAME SUMMARY

Iona struck first in the opening frame with three straight walks to load the bases with one out. Gray stepped up to the plate and laced a double down the left field line to drive in two runs. The Gaels looked to tack on a few more runs after a hit by pitch reloaded the bases but inning ending double play closed the inning.
 
Western Carolina picked up its first run in the bottom of the first on a one-out double before grabbing the lead on a two-out single to jump ahead 3-2. The Catamounts added another run in the second inning on a two-out single.
 
Junior Jayson Gonzalez led off the top of the third with a home run to left centerfield. Iona continued to get on base with a single by Gray and walks by freshman Jc Frias and junior Matt Wessels. Sophomore Nickolas Mora worked the third walk of the inning to drive in a run and tie the game up at 4-4.

The Catamounts reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run inning on four hits to jump out in front 7-4. Iona got one run back in the top half of the sixth as sophomore Anthony Zollo recorded a two-out double to get in scoring position. Sophomore Josiah Ragsdale drove him in on a single to right field.
 
Western Carolina pushed its lead back up to three at 8-5 on an RBI groundout to second in the bottom of the seventh inning. Iona was held to just one base runner in the final two innings of play as the home team sealed the victory.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Gray went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
  • Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a team-high two runs scored.
  • Juniors Andrelys Payamps and Joey Kasper recorded a pair of strikeouts on the mound.
  • Redshirt-sophomore Nick Chiaia logged two scoreless innings of relief, surrendering just one hit to go with a walk and strikeout.

UP NEXT

The Gaels and Catamounts continue the weekend series on Saturday, first pitch is now slated for 1 p.m. at Hennon Stadium.
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