Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Events

View Schedule  
  Go Back

Iona University Athletics

Josiah Ragsdale Running to First
Stockton Photo Inc.
10
Winner Iona ION 11-31
7
Villanova VU 14-28
Winner
Iona ION
11-31
10
Final
7
Villanova VU
14-28
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Iona ION 0 0 4 1 1 1 0 3 0 10 17 1
Villanova VU 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 7 9 2

W: Kuentzel, Carl (1-4) L: MCCOLLOUGH L (4-4) S: Hunt, Alex (2)

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

Ragsdale Hits for Cycle as Iona Baseball Powers Past Villanova in Series Opener

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — The Iona University baseball team registered a season-high 17 hits to defeat Villanova, 10-7 on Friday afternoon. Six hitters tallied multiple hits for the Gaels led by a sophomore Josiah Ragsdale who hit for the cycle in the win over the Wildcats at Villanova Ballpark.
 
Ragsdale's stellar afternoon at the plate for the cycle saw a single in the third, lead off home run in the fourth, RBI double in the fifth before ending the day with an RBI triple to center field. Juniors Jayson Gonzalez and Carson Cahoy both tallied three hits each. Cahoy and graduate student Garret Gray both drove in two runs. Senior James Kemp recorded his 100th career hit in the win.

GAME SUMMARY

Gonzalez and Ragsdale jumpstarted the Iona offense in the third with back-to-back singles. Freshman Carter Groen followed with the third straight base knock, driving in Gonzalez from second to score the first run of the inning. After a strikeout, an error at third allowed Kemp to reach and Ragsdale to score from second for the second run. Sophomore Anthony Zollo then tallied the fourth single of the inning to load the bases. Gray stepped to the dish lined a two-run single to left field to bring the lead to 4-0.

Ragsdale went first pitch swinging in the top of the fourth and launched a home run over the left field wall to extend the Iona lead to five.
 
Villanova punched back in the bottom half of the fourth with a pair of home runs to left field.
 
Cahoy led off the fifth inning with a single to right field for the Gaels. After a fly out to left, Ragsdale lined a double down the left field line to score Cahoy from first to push the lead to 6-2.

The Wildcats cut the deficit back to two in the bottom of the frame with a two-out two-run home run to right field.
 
Iona tacked on one more run in the sixth as Zollo and Gray reached on a one-out single and walk respectively. A line out to short followed before Cahoy entered the batter's box. The left fielder lined the 1-0 pitch into left field to score Zollo from second and push the lead to 7-4.
 
After a scoreless seventh inning, Gray led off the top of the eighth with a seven-pitch walk. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. A Villanova pitching change followed as Cahoy stepped to the plate once again. He roped an RBI double off the left field wall for the first run of the frame and then proceeded to steal third base. Gonzalez drove him in on an RBI single to left field. Ragsdale followed by mashing the 1-2 pitch off the center field wall to complete the cycle and give the Gaels the 10-4 advantage.
 
The Wildcats used a two-out two-run single to center field in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit down to four.
 
After a quiet top of the ninth from the Gaels, Villanova looked for one last rally attempt starting the bottom of the inning with a walk and RBI single to right center. A hit by pitch followed to put the tying run at the plate. Senior Alex Hunt then took the bump, getting back-to-back strikeouts to halt the Wildcats. Trouble still loomed after a wild pitch and hit batter loaded the bases. Hunt stayed locked in, winning a seven-pitch at bat with a strikeout swinging to end the game and secure the 10-7 win for Iona.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Ragsdale tied his season high with four hits and produced his 21st multi-hit game and ninth multi-RBI game this season. He tallied his team-leading seventh triple and sixth home run of the season.
  • Kemp registered his 100th career hit after a pair of base knocks in his 113th game for the Maroon & Gold.
  • Gonzalez posted his third three-hit performance of the year.
  • Cahoy's three hits was his second three-hit game in the last four contests.
  • Gray's two runs batted in was the fourth multi-RBI game of the year.
  • Groen, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week went 2-for-4 with a run scored and run batted in.
  • Junior Karl Kuentzel earned his first win of the season after logging two scoreless innings of relief. He surrendered just one hit and one walk while striking out three.
  • Hunt tallied his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

UP NEXT

The Gaels and Wildcats continue the weekend series with a 1 p.m. start tomorrow.
Print Friendly Version