HAMDEN, CT— The Iona University baseball team opened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a 15-8 setback to Quinnipiac on Friday afternoon. The Gaels held a lead into the seventh inning before a late rally from the Bobcats at QU Baseball Field.
 
Junior Anthony Zollo led the Maroon & Gold offense with a pair of hits. Sophomore Jc Frias registered a career-high three runs batted in. Senior Eric Gialloreto recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in the start for the Gaels.

GAME SUMMARY

The Bobcats struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single up the middle followed by a two-run home run for the early 3-0 margin.
 
Iona's offense got going in the top of the second as Frias earned a walk. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Overton followed with a hit by pitch. Both baserunners moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt from Zollo. An RBI groundout from senior Anthony Febo brought home the first Iona run. Quinnipiac quickly answered in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
 
After a scoreless third inning, Overton got things going with another hit by pitch with one-out. Zollo followed with an infield single. Another hit by pitch followed to load up the bases with no outs. Senior Matt Wessels then earned an RBI walk for the first run of the inning. An RBI groundout from junior Nickolas Mora cut the deficit to one. The Bobcats escaped trouble with a strikeout.
 
Iona would tie the game up in the top of the fifth inning after a leadoff single from redshirt freshman Sean Stephenson and a walk from senior James Kemp. Frias then stepped to the plate and lined an RBI single up the middle to knot the score up at 4-4.
 
The Gaels took the lead in the sixth inning after loading the bases up with no outs. Stephenson was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run. After a strikeout, Frias lifted a sacrifice fly to right field for the 6-4 advantage.

Quinnipiac took advantage of an Iona error with two outs in the bottom of the sixth as two runs scored to tie the game at 6-6. Momentum carried over for the Bobcats in the seventh with two runs coming around to score on a single. An errant throw on a steal attempt brought home another run pushed the margin to 9-6 in favor of the home side.
 
Iona looked to answer in the top of the eighth as Mora opened the inning with a walk and junior Damian Rodriguez followed with a double to center field to put runners in scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Mora to score for the first run of the frame. After a strikeout, Kemp earned a walk to load the bases. An RBI fielder's choice from Frias saw the Bobcats get the out at second base and made it a 9-8 ballgame. Quinnipiac ended the inning with a ground out to third base.

The Bobcats ran away with the game in the bottom of the eighth after loading the bases with two outs. Earning an RBI hit by pitch and walk before two big singles to cap the scoring with six runs in the frame to take the 15-8 series opener.
 
Gialloreto was the Friday starter for the Maroon & Gold, striking out a career-high eight batters in six innings of work. Senior Carl Kuentzel, junior Nick Chiaia and senior Ronald Rockey all pitched in relief for the Maroon & Gold.

UP NEXT

The Gaels continue the weekend series against the Bobcats tomorrow with a 1 p.m. start from Quinnipiac Baseball Field.