NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University baseball team looked for a ninth inning rally on Saturday afternoon but fell just short dropping a 6-5 decision to Mount St. Mary's. The Gaels plated three runs in the ninth and looked to take hold of the game with two runners on with one out before the Mountaineers secured a game ending double play at City Park.
 
The Maroon & Gold recorded 13 hits for the game. Senior James Kemp went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in. Freshman Carter Groen also tallied three hits. Sophomore Anthony Zollo drove in a pair of runs and sophomore Josiah Ragsdale added two hits and a run batted in.

GAME SUMMARY

Mount opened the scoring with a big second inning with five runs on four hits and an Iona error to take the early lead. The Mountaineers capped the team's scoring in the third inning with an RBI single to center field.
 
Graduate student Jim Pasquale led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single to right center. Kemp followed with a single to right before both runners advanced on a ground out. Zollo got Iona on the scoreboard with an RBI ground out to short stop.

The Gaels continued to chip away in the sixth inning as sophomore Nickolas Mora got things going with a one-out single to right center. Redshirt freshman Jordan Overton followed with a walk and junior Jayson Gonzalez singled to center to load the bases. Ragsdale lifted a high fly ball to the fringe of the outfield that required a diving catch allowing Mora to tag up and score to cut into the Mount lead.
 
Scoring was halted through the next two frames before the game rolled into the ninth inning. Down to the final three outs, Ragsdale got Iona started with an infield single. Groen then singled through the left side and Pasquale earned a walk to load the bases. Kemp stepped to the plate and lined a two-run single to left center make it a two-run game. Graduate student Garret Gray loaded the bases with a single to left field. Zollo made it a one run contest on a sacrifice fly to center field. Mora made his way to the plate for the Gaels. A sharp liner was hit to second base and Mount was able to turn a double play to escape trouble and ended the game.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Kemp's three hits was his first of the season and the 10^th multi-hit game this year. His two runs batted in was sixth time he's driven in multiple runs this season.
• Groen tallied his second three-hit showing of the year.
• Ragsdale recorded his 19^th multi-hit game for the season with his two base knocks.
• Zollo drove in a pair of runs for the fifth time this year.
• Pasquale logged his 10^th multi-hit game and extended his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games.

UP NEXT

Both teams cap the weekend series with a noon start tomorrow at City Park.