Game One

Iona fell behind early in game one, in the second inning Siena took a 2-0 lead with three straight hits and an RBI ground out. The Gaels were not able to respond until the fifth inning when freshman Sean Stephenson slapped a lead off single and senior Matt Wessels was first pitch swinging and hit a single through the right side. Stephenson would be caught trying to steal third, but with two outs, Febo would drive in Wessels to make it 2-1 Saints. The Gaels would end of stranding the bases loaded and miss on a great chance to tie the ballgame. 

Payamps would return for the seventh where he get into trouble and have two on with one out. The Siena batter would slap a single to left field and wave a runner home, but a strong throw from Zollo hosed him at the plate and kept it a one run game. The next batter unfortunately would find a gap and score both runs, before Payamps would strike out the next hitter and end the inning. Senior Joey Kasper would enter for the eighth inning and allow two runs on a wild pitch after giving up back-to-back hits. He would get out of the inning with the Gaels down 6-1. With the offense still quite, junior Nick Chiaia entered the game and was only able to get two outs and allow a run, before senior Robert Lasbury was called upon and he threw three pitches and got a swinging strikeout to limit any further damage.

In the bottom of the ninth, Wessels would lead off with a single, then graduate student Jayson Gonzalez would also hit a single getting Wessels to third. Febo would add to the hit parade with an RBI single to center cutting the lead to 7-2. Zollo would rip a two RBI double down the line and bring the Gaels within three with the top of the order coming up. Junior Damian Rodriguez would be hit by a pitch, followed by sophomore Jc Frias loading the bases on a single. With one out, Kemp stepped in and slapped a single up the middle to bring the Gaels within one run. Stephenson would advance Frias to third on a fly ball, but Wessels would hit a liner that would hang just a bit too long and end the game.

Payamps got the loss, his fifth of the season. Siena's Noah Rodriguez earned the win and Ryan Taffe the save.

Game Two

After a short break, the Gaels kicked off game two. Trinidad worked out of trouble early, but still the Maroon & Gold fell behind in the first three innings, 2-0. The bottom of the fourth saw Iona get their first run after a lead off walk to Kemp and he would advance on back-to-back ground outs. He ended up scoring on a single from Gonzalez through the left side. Febo would walk and set up Zollo. Gonzalez stole third and would score on a Zollo single to left field.

The lead was short lived as sophomore Brendan Callanan entered and gave up a lead off home run, but the bats had his back and scored one back in the bottom of the fifth. as Overton doubled with one out and Stephenson would drive him in on a single to right field. Again Siena would respond in the sixth inning scoring an unearned run on a single to left field. Junior Sean Davis would keep the Gaels close going two innings allowing only two hits. In the top of the ninth, senior Matt Zguro would take the bump and give up a lead off home run. This would not stop him from retiring the next three in order and giving Iona a chance to comeback.

In the bottom of the ninth, Iona would hit a ground out and fly out and need a miracle with two outs and no one on. Rodriguez started the rally crushing a towering triple hitting of the top of the fence in left field giving the Gaels some home. Frias built on his single season program lead and got plunked in the leg, bringing the winning run to the plate. Overton blasted a liner in the left center gap, which set Frias blazing around the bases to score from first. Sophomore Nicolas Mora would enter to pinch run for Overton and he would advance to third on a wild pitch. With a bit of luck and a lot of wind, Kemp launched a pop up deep into the clouds and everyone went silent as the Siena right fielder was unable to track it down as it landed and the Maroon & Gold poured out of the dugout to celebrate with Kemp at first.

Zguro earned his third win of the year, while Siena's Noah Wieczorek moves to 0-4. Iona is now 14-27 overall and 8-13 in conference play. 

TEAM STATS

• On the day Iona won the strikeout battle 13-9
• The Gaels also led on hits 24-21
• The Maroon & Gold commit all three errors on the day
• Iona stole two bases, while Siena only took one

notable nuggets

• Kemp's walk off was his second of the season.
• The Gael's refused to lose scoring 8 of their 12 runs in the ninth inning of both games.
• Not Done Yet, the Maroon & Gold sit just outside of eighth place as they try to reach the MAAC Championship for the first time since 2017.
• Eight total batters were hit by a pitch today, five separate Gaels.
• Gonzalez continues to do it all, now batting .291, getting hot at the perfect time.
• Kemp reached 100 career RBIs
• Zollo reached 150 career hits.

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