VALHALLA, NY — The Iona University baseball team earned the series victory on Sunday afternoon, fending off a late Manhattan rally for a 9-8 win at Vikings Field.
Sunday was a strong day at the plate for the Maroon & Gold, registering a season-high 15 hits against the Jaspers. Six batters tallied multiple hits for the Gaels with sophomore
Anthony Zollo led the way with a team-high three hits. Zollo also registered a game-high three runs batted in. Senior
James Kemp recorded his second home run of the weekend with a two-run shot in the ninth.
GAME SUMMARY
After a quiet first inning, the Gaels struck first once again as Kemp led off the second inning with a single to right field and advanced to second on a passed ball. Manhattan recorded a foul out for the second out of the inning. Zollo then stepped to the plate and lined an RBI single to center field for the early lead.
Manhattan punched back in the bottom of the inning with a two-out RBI double down the left field line to tie the game up.
Sophomore
Josiah Ragsdale led off the third inning with a triple to left center field. Freshman
Carter Groen was hit by a pitch to give Iona runners on the corners. Graduate student
Jim Pasquale lifted the sacrifice fly to right field to give Iona back the lead.
The Jaspers responded with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning, taking the 3-2 lead on a two-run single to right field.
Sophomore
Nickolas Mora led off the fourth with a single to right field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by graduate student
Nick Forney. Junior
Jayson Gonzalez stepped to the plate and lined an RBI single to left field to tie the game once again. Groen gave Iona back the lead with an RBI double.
Scoring went quiet for a few innings before Manhattan utilized a two-out two-run double down the left field line to take the lead 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth.
Iona answered in the seventh as Groen led off the inning with a double down the left field line. A fielding error allowed Pasquale to reach and advance to second as Groen moved up a base to third. Manhattan recorded two quick outs looking to escape trouble. Zollo delivered a two-run double to the gap in left center to reclaim the lead. Mora added to the lead with an RBI single to center field to bring the score to 7-5.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard in the eighth after a pair of one-two-three half innings.
Pasquale led off the top of the ninth for Iona with a single to right field. Kemp then launched a two-run shot over the left field wall for the 9-5 advantage.
Looking for a late rally the Jaspers opened the inning with two singles and runners at first and third. A passed ball allowed one run to score before the Gaels got two quick outs. Manhattan cut the deficit to one on a two-run home run to left field. A hit by pitch extended the rally but junior
Matt Zguro got a strikeout looking to end the game and secure the series win.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona's 15 hits were a new season-high single game-high and six batters posted multiple hits.
- Zollo posted his ninth mulit-hit game of the season, and it was the third time he has recorded three hits in a contest. He tallied three runs batted in for the second time this year.
- Ragsdale, Groen and Pasquale all recorded two hits out of the two-three-four spot in the Gaels order.
- Kemp launched home runs in back-to-back games to end the series. He drove in six runs in the two wins over the Jaspers.
- Sophomore Michael Lorenzetti tied his career-high with seven strikeouts for the second time this season. He pitched five and two thirds in the no-decision.
- Sophomore Andrew Gaines recorded his second career win, logging two scoreless innings of relief for the Gaels.
UP NEXT
Iona returns home to City Park on Tuesday, April 16 for a 3 p.m. contest against LIU.
