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Iona University Athletics

Zollo Rodriguez High 5
Will Quincy - Iona Athletics
2
Maine MAINE 3-11
3
Winner Iona ION 4-10
Maine MAINE
3-11
2
Final
3
Iona ION
4-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Maine MAINE 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 6 1
Iona ION 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 X 3 8 0

W: Rockey, Ronald (1-1) L: Dylan Shaffer (0-1) S: Kuentzel, Carl (1)

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

Iona Baseball Bests Maine in Home Opener, 3-2

NEW ROCHELLE, NY— The Iona University baseball team defeated Maine, 3-2 in its home opener at City Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Gaels took the lead on an RBI single in the sixth inning by junior Damian Rodriguez to best the Black Bears in non-conference action.
 
Graduate student James Kemp and freshman Andrew Lenski both registered multi-hit games. The Maroon & Gold utilized seven pitchers in the midweek matchup.

GAME SUMMARY

Maine stuck first capitalizing on an Iona fielding error with two outs in the opening inning for the early 1-0 lead. The Maroon & Gold had a few chances to bring in the tying run but stranded three base runners through the first three innings of play.
 
Kemp worked a four pitch walk to lead off the bottom of the fourth. After a flyout, redshirt freshman Sean Stephenson earned a six-pitch walk. Lenski then stepped to the plate and laced the 1-2 offering to the gap in left center for an RBI double to knot the game up at 1-1.
 
Momentum continued for the Gaels in the bottom of the fifth as redshirt sophomore Jordan Overton picked up a two-out double to left field. Kemp then delivered an RBI double down the left field line for the 2-1 advantage. Iona looked to tack on more after an infield single from junior Anthony Zollo put runners at the corners. The Black Bears escaped trouble with a popout to end the frame.
 
Maine answered in the top of the sixth inning with two-out hitting as a single to left field and a hit by pitch put two runners on. The tying run would come around to score with an RBI single through the right side.
 
Junior Nickolas Mora worked a two-out six pitch walk in the bottom of the sixth. He then proceeded to swipe second base. Rodriguez lifted the 1-1 pitch into left center for an RBI single to score Mora and give the Gaels a 3-2 advantage.
 
Iona's bullpen shut the door, surrendering just one hit in the final three innings to secure the 3-2 win. Senior Ronald Rockey earned his first win in relief for the Maroon & Gold. Senior Joey Kasper pitched a hitless seventh and eighth innings. Senior Carl Kuentzel earned the save pitching the ninth inning for the Gaels.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Kemp recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season and drove in his team leading 12th RBI of the year
  • Lenski tallied the first multi-hit of his collegiate career.
  • Zollo extended his hitting streak to 14 straight games to start the 2025 season.
  • Rockey registered his first win in his fifth appearance out of the bullpen.
  • Kuenztel picked up his second career save for Iona.
  • Sophomore Saul Mata picked up a career-high three strikeouts in two innings of relief.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will stay at City Park for the first home Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series against Mount St. Mary's this wee
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