LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The Iona University baseball team concluded the road portion of its 2024 schedule and series finale with a 12-7 defeat to Rider in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Sunday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.
The Gaels outhit the Broncs, 12-9 for the game. Graduate student
Garret Gray, junior
Matt Wessels and sophomore
Josiah Ragsdale all recorded multiple hits for the Maroon & Gold. Junior
Jayson Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs including a solo home run in the fifth inning. Freshman
Carter Groen also drove in two runs on a third inning single.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona got the game going in the top of the third inning as redshirt freshman
Jordan Overton recorded a one-out walk. Wessels then roped a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Gonzalez drove in the first run of the inning on an RBI fielder's choice. Ragsdale followed with an RBI single to score Wessels from third base. Groen then plated a pair of runners on single to bring the Maroon & Gold lead to 4-0.
The Broncs punched back in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice fly to left field and a two-out out two-run home run to cut the deficit to one.
Rider then loaded the bases to begin the bottom of the fourth inning before tying things up on an RBI single. Five more runs followed on a pair of Iona errors and a two-run single to give the home team a 9-4 lead.
Iona grabbed one run back in the top of the fifth courtesy of a leadoff home run by Gonzalez after he sent the 2-2 pitch over the fence.
The Broncs tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single to right field and then a one-out home run in the seventh inning.
Graduate student
Jim Pasquale picked up a one-out single to left center to begin the eighth inning for the Gaels. Sophomore
Anthony Zollo followed with a single to center to put two runners on. Gray made it three straight singles with a base knock to center field. Pasquale attempted to score from second on the play but a successful relay throw by the Broncs to home plate for the out. A wild pitch to the backstop scored Zollo from third for the first run of the inning. A fielding error allowed a second run to come home to bring the score to 11-7.
Rider added another run in the bottom of the frame on a one-out sacrifice fly to left field.
The Gaels looked for late life in the ninth as Wessels opened the frame with a single to centerfield. After a strikeout, Ragsdale followed with a single to left field for two runners on. Groen then reached on a fielder's choice as Rider nabbed the lead runner at third. A four pitch walk to Pasquale loaded up the bases for Iona. The Broncs were able to secure a ground out to third base to secure the 12-7 victory and series sweep.
UP NEXT
The Gaels conclude the 2024 season with a home series against Siena beginning with a 6:00 p.m. contest on Thursday, May 16 at City Park.
