Game Summary

The Gaels fell behind in the third inning on the lone mistake from Onorato, who aside from one pitch was phenomenal. Allowing just five hits over five innings, Onorato pitched to contact and let the Gaels strong defense make plays in the field. The Maroon & Gold would recover from him, in the top of the following inning, junior Damian Rodriguez led off with a double and advanced on a ground out before three straight singles from junior Anthony Zollo, sophomore Nickolas Mora, and freshman Andrew Lenski would bring the Gaels within just one run. Senior Carson Cahoy would get hit by a pitch in a 2-2 count to load the bases for senior Matt Wessels. Wessels would do his job knocking in a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Onorato in the bottom of the fourth would find trouble with runners on the corners with two outs, but a huge fly out would keep the ballgame tied. In the fifth, Onorato again would find two runners on, but a strikeout would end the inning. The sixth inning would give Iona their first lead of the game as after Wessels singled with two outs and Stephenson blasted a double into the left center gap to drive him in. Junior Jackson Kossow would enter for the bottom of the inning and strikeout two in the frame. He would return for the seventh inning and after giving up two base runners and only getting two outs, Iona would turn to senior Brandon Pettrey would walk his first hitter and after a wild pitch to his second, he would make a run saving play to keep the game tied at four all going into the eighth.

Each club fell flat offensively in the eighth and ninth inning. As senior Carl Kuentzel sat the Red Storm down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to force extras. In extras, the Gaels failed to score in the tenth, but senior Joey Kasper would be called upon for the bottom of the frame. After two quick outs, a hit by pitch followed by two stolen bags put the winning run on third. A pop fly that was falling into no man's land was snagged by Mora to save the game and send it into the eleventh inning. Sophomore Jordan Overton would reach on an error and advance to second on a wild pitch. He would advance to third on a ground out before scoring on a passed ball. St. John's would draw a lead off walk before doubling into the gap and back-to-back fly balls to win the game.

Kasper was handed the loss and St. John's Jacob Ruiz the win.

TEAM STATS

• Iona just lost the strikeout battle, 8-7
• The Gaels out hit St. John's 13-8
• The Red Storm commit the lone error of the game
• St. John's stole all five bases of the game

notable nuggets

• Another three Gaels got hit by a pitch today, now at a season total of 82 times.
• Five doubles from four different Gaels today.
• Stephenson had his 16th multi hit game of the year, and now is in the midst of a nine game hit streak.

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