SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Iona University Baseball team would use strong offensive to take game one of the three game series over Seton Hall. Graduate student
James Kemp produced five hits with six RBIs, while sophomore
Jc Frias had three hits and four RBIs. Senior
Eric Gialloreto went seven innings only giving up four runs and was a crucial factor in overseeing this Gaels win.
Joining those two Gaels with multi hit games were junior
Damian Rodriguez, graduate student
Jayson Gonzalez and senior
Matt Wessels. Overall, it was Iona's best day at the plate on the season and continues to showcase their high powered offense.
Game Summary
The Gaels began the game down 3-0 through the first two innings. In the first, Seton Hall led off with a triple before driving him in on a ground out, while in the second inning, back-to-back doubles and a two out single would drive in the next two.
This set up Iona for a two run third inning that saw Rodriguez and Frias both single before scoring on a Kemp single to bring the game to 3-2. In the top of the fourth, the Gaels would pull ahead. Five straight singles saw RBIs picked up by Rodriguez and Frias, before again Kemp would drive in two more on a single. The pirates would get one back, but the Gaels were starting to get hot up 6-4.
The game was then blown open in the seventh inning after Gonzalez led off with a single and was pushed to second on a bunt. Wessels would then single and steal second, while Rodriguez would walk to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Frias would clear the bases on a double to center field. Sophomore James Overton would get hit by a pitch in the next at bat setting up Kemp in another RBI situation. Kemp would hit a towering home run to center field to expand the lead now to 12-3 and as the Gaels would wrap up the sixth run inning.
Gialloreto would exit the game heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, handing the ball of to junior Tyler Lender who pitched a quick bottom of the eighth but would run into some trouble in the ninth inning. Lender would give up three runs in the ninth inning, but would be able to finish off the Pirates and secure the Gaels the 12-7 victory.
Gialloreto would earn his second win of the season, while Seton Hall's Reich took his fourth loss of the year.
TEAM STATS
- Iona had their best hitting performance of the year with 20 while Seton Hall got 10
- The Gaels stole six bases while the Pirates stole none.
- Strikeouts were an even five apiece.
- Seton Hall commit two errors, Iona only commit one.
- The Maroon & Gold would walk just four batters on the day.
notable nuggets
- Kemp produced his best game of the year, coming off his hottest stretch.
- Gialloreto went for his third straight start of six innings or more.
- Five Gaels had multi hit games.
- Every Iona starting batter recorded a hit.
Up Next
The Gaels continue the series, tomorrow Saturday March 22. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Carroll Field.
