NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University baseball team dropped its season finale to Siena, 9-5 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. Prior to the contest the Gaels honored the program's six seniors.
 
Seniors Garret Gray, Cooper Haseley, Alex Hunt, James Kemp, Chris Mariani and Teo Torrado were recognized before the game in part of Senior Day.
 
In the season finale, all nine batters contributed a hit for the Maroon & Gold. Sophomore Josiah Ragsdale led the way with three hits and two runs batted in. His fourth inning triple set the career triples program record with the 15^th triple of his career. Then two innings later, his leadoff double set a new single season program record with 74 hits this year.
 
Junior Eric Gialloreto established a new single season record for appearances in the game, making his 33^rd appearance on the mound for the Gaels.

GAME SUMMARY

Haseley made his first career start for the Maroon & Gold on Senior Day working a scoreless first as the defense spun a five-four-three double play behind him.
 
Siena kicked off the scoring going in the second inning, scoring three runs on three hits for the early lead.
 
Iona punched right back in the bottom of the frame as Gray led things off with an infield single. Sophomore Anthony Zollo followed with a base knock through the right side. The Saints picked up two quick outs before the Gaels used timely two-out hitting. Junior Jayson Gonzales singled through the left side to load the bases. Ragsdale went the opposite way for a two-run single to get Iona on the scoreboard. Freshman Carter Groen then roped a two RBI triple to right center to take the 4-3 lead.
 
Ragsdale's record setting triple came on a 3-2 offering with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Siena held the Gaels in check with back-to-back groundouts to end the frame.
 
The Gaels threatened once again in the fifth as two-out hitting by Zollo and sophomore Nickolas Mora to put runners on first and third. Graduate student Nick Forney earned a walk to load the bases. The Saints escaped trouble once again with an inning ending fly out to right center.
 
Siena utilized a one-out RBI triple to left field and a sacrifice fly in back-to-back plate appearances in the top of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.
 
Iona looked to level the game in the bottom of the inning as Ragsdale led off the frame with a double to right center for his single season record hit. He advanced to third on a flyout before the Saints made a heads up play for a lead out at the plate for the second out of the inning.
 
The Saints saw late life in the seventh inning on a dropped fly ball by the Gaels with one out. A groundout followed as both runners advanced into scoring position. From there the visitors tacked on four runs on three hits to take control of the game with a 9-4 lead.
 
Iona was held at bay offensively till the bottom of the eighth inning as Forney stepped up for the last at bat of his career and launched a leadoff home run over the wall in left center to bring the score to 9-5.
 
Siena held the Gaels in check from there just issuing a ninth inning walk to come away with the win.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Ragsdale finished the 2024 season with his 25^th multi-hit and 11^th multi-RBI games. He bested the career triple record set by former teammate Jake Field, '23. His 74 hits this season broke the single season mark of 73 set back in 1991 by Jeff Spilsbury.
• Gialloreto made his 33^rd appearance of the season to establish a new single season program record. He leads the MAAC in appearances this season and moved his career appearance total to 80, two shy of the program career record.
• Groen finished his rookie campaign for the Maroon & Gold with his 15^th multi-hit and eighth multi-RBI games.
• Zollo's two hits for the Gaels was his 14^th multi-hit game of the season.
• Forney connected on his first home run of the season in his final at bat for Iona.