NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University Baseball team dropped their second game of a three game slate against Fairfield, 7-3. Once again the Gaels offense produced hits and drew walks, but were unable to find one more hit with runners on. Iona left 11 men on base and for the fourth straight game were one swing away from a different looking game. Senior starting pitcher
Andrelys Payamps was only able to go five innings, while freshman
Justin Trinidad and sophomore
Saul Mata did a strong job in relief not allowing a run over four innings. Senior
Braize Mitchell provided the only extra base hit for the Gaels on the day with a massive two run home run to left center field.
Game Summary
The Gaels in the top of the first were threatening with runners on second and third one out, but junior Damian Rodriguez was called out on an athletic play from the Stags catcher to recover from a wild pitch and make a diving save to prevent the early run. Iona would score in the bottom of the second inning though, senior Matt Wessels would ground into a fielder's choice, but after the pitcher sailed the ball over the first baseman's head, freshman Sean Stephenson would come into score for the games first run.
Payamps was working in the first three innings. Not allowing a hit and striking out the side in the first inning. He ran into some trouble in the third with an error, hit by pitch and walk but would strand the bases loaded. The fourth inning was trouble for Payamps, five straight hits including a triple, three doubles and a single. Stags would go up 4-1 and not stop yet. In the top of the sixth inning, after a lead off walk, Payamps allowed three more extra base hits before Trinidad entered to stop the bleeding with three straight strikeouts.
Mitchell would provide his home run in the eighth inning to bring the game to 7-3, and graduate student James Kemp would single for his 150th career hit in the ninth. Payamps would get handed the loss, his third of the year and Fairfield's Lesler took the win moving him to 4-0 on the year.
TEAM STATS
- Iona dominated the strikeout battle, 14-6
- Hits were tied 11 apiece
- The Stags commit two errors to Iona's one
- Iona had the only stolen base attempt, but were caught
notable nuggets
- Kemp achieved 150 career hits with his single to right field.
- Trinidad and Mata combined for nine strikeouts over four innings.
- "Braizen Caines" Mitchell hit his second home run of the year at City Park.
Up Next
Iona finish off their series with league leader's Fairfield tomorrow at 1 p.m.
