Game Summary

The Gaels got on the board first after junior Damian Rodriguez reached on a dropped third strike, while Stephenson reached on an error. Overton, with two runners in scoring position, grounded out to score the first run, while Kemp sacrificed flied to right field to score the second. The lead was short lived however, as Merrimack matched with two of their own in the bottom half. Three singles in the inning and a passed ball led to the runs. They would end up taking the lead in the second on back-to-back two out doubles. In the third, the Warriors would add their fourth run on a lead off home run. Gialloreto would strike out two of the next three batters he saw putting him one away from 100 career. He would reach the milestone in the fifth inning striking out the lead off hitter. He would finish with seven on the day.

In the sixth, Kemp knocked a lead off single before advancing to second on a ground out. With two down in the inning, Gonzalez slapped a single into center field bringing the game to 4-3 Merrimack. Iona would tie it in the seventh as junior Anthony Zollo lead off with a single and advanced on a sacrifice from Rodriguez. Again with two outs, Overton blasted a double down the line to tie the game. Davis would enter for Gialloreto in the bottom of the frame and record a 1-2-3 inning. The Gaels stranded a runner in the eighth inning, but Davis worked around a lead off walk in the bottom of the eighth to push this game to the ninth.

With each team needing this win to keep their postseason hopes alive, the biggest swing of the season came from Stephenson. Unloading one to left field and giving Iona a 5-4 lead. Zguro would enter to close it out, but an error would allow the lead off batter to reach base. A sacrifice moved him over to second with just one out, but back-to-back swinging strikeouts would see Iona grab conference win number nine. Davis got the win, Zguro awarded the save and Merrimack's Yennaco the loss. The Gaels are still on the outside looking in with five matches to go in conference play, but find themselves with a chance to make the MAAC Championship for the first time since 2017.

TEAM STATS

• Iona won the strikeout battle, 12-5
• The Gaels out hit Merrimack 10-9
• The Maroon & Gold commit one error, while the Warriors commit four
• Merrimack stole the lone base

notable nuggets

• Gialloreto reached 102 strikeouts with seven on the day.
• Zguro now tied for sixth all time for career saves.
• Stephenson's seventh home run picks his average up to .346

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