PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — The Iona University baseball team looked for a late rally in the back-and-forth battle with Villanova on Saturday before falling just short, 9-8 at Villanova Ballpark. The Gaels outhit the Wildcats, 12-10 for the game but the home team held capitalized on a big fifth inning to secure the win.
 
Five Gaels recorded multiple hits led by sophomore Josiah Ragsdale, who went 3-for-4 and recorded his 100^th career hit on a solo home run in the fourth. Junior Anthony Zollo drove in three runs on a three-run home run in the fourth inning.

GAME SUMMARY

Villanova struck first with on a two-run home run in the second and a one-out RBI single to left field in the third for a 3-0 lead. 
 
Ragsdale went first pitch swinging in top of the fourth inning, launching the solo shot over the right field wall. After a ground out to third, graduate student Jim Pasquale and senior James Kemp posted back-to-back singles for the Gaels. A fly out to left field got the second out of the inning for Villanova. Febo stepped to the plate and lifted the 2-0 pitch over the left field wall for the three-run home run to give Iona the 4-3 advantage.
 
The Wildcats answered in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run to retake the lead.
 
Iona punched back in the top of the fifth on a two-out home run by Pasquale to right center to knot the game up 5-5.
 
Villanova capitalized on its fourth home run of the game with a two-run shot to right field to start the bottom of the inning. A bloop single with two runners followed by an Iona error gave the home team a 9-5 advantage.
 
Sophomore Anthony Zollo led off the sixth with a single through the right side. Sophomore Nickolas Mora then drew a one-out walk to put two runners on. Junior Carson Cahoy then delivered an RBI double to the gap in right center. A sacrifice fly by junior Jayson Gonzalez cut the deficit down to two.
 
After a scoreless seventh inning, Iona looked continue to rally as Mora led off the eighth with a seven-pitch walk. He advanced to second on a wild pitch before a groundout brought him to third. A pitch in the dirt allowed him to score and make it a one-run ball game. Iona continued the inning on Ragsdale single and a walk to freshman Carter Groen with two outs. Villanova escaped the inning on a strikeout looking.

Iona was held to just one single in the top of the ninth as the Wildcats recorded two straight strikeouts to secure the 9-8 win.
 

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Ragsdale continued his stellar weekend with his third straight multi-hit game. He launched his seventh home run of the season for his 100^th career hit in his 83^rd career game for the Gaels.
• Cahoy, Kemp, Pasquale and Zollo all registered multiple hits.  
• Pasquale recorded his fifth home run of the season in the fifth inning.
• Febo's fourth inning blast was his second home run of the year.
• Junior Andrelys Payamps fanned seven batters over four innings in the no decision. 

UP NEXT

Both teams will battle for the series win tomorrow at noon from Villanova Ballpark.