RADFORD, VA — The Iona University baseball team opened its 2026 campaign with a road series against the Radford Highlanders. Game one of the three-game set featured a true pitchers' duel, as graduate student
Andrelys Payamps delivered four strong no-hit innings. While both teams put runners on base throughout the contest, neither side was able to break through until the sixth inning.
Sparrer reached on an error for the Highlanders and was later erased on a fielder's choice by Parks, who advanced to second base. A triple by Self then drove in Parks to give Radford a late 1–0 lead. To open the seventh inning, Toole tripled for Radford and was brought home on the following at-bat, extending the Highlanders' advantage to 2–0.
Game Summary
Redshirt freshman Tyler Acevedo recorded the first hit of the 2026 season for the Maroon and Gold with a single to shortstop. He later stole second base, but the Gaels were unable to bring him home after a strikeout and a groundout which ended the top of the first inning. Payamps then found himself in trouble in the first after walking the bases loaded, but he worked out of the jam by striking out Radford's Devin Parks. He bounced back nicely in the second inning with a fly out followed by two consecutive ground outs to retire the side in order.
After two walks and a hit-by-pitch, the bases were loaded again for the Highlanders, but Payamps struck out Parks for the second time to escape the inning and carry a no-hit bid into the fourth. Redshirt sophomore Sean Stephenson opened the fourth with a walk, becoming just the second base runner of the game for the Gaels, but he was left stranded at first after two strikeouts and a fly out in the continued pitchers' duel.
In the top of the fifth, Malachi Costello recorded the Gaels' third hit of the game with a single up the middle, but a double play ended the inning. Senior Sean Davis entered in relief of Payamps and started the fifth inning strong, inducing a fly out from Hunter Keen and a strikeout of Breckin Nace before getting Eli Hudgins to ground out to third.
In the sixth, Radford's Tyler Sparrer reached on an error. A fielder's choice by Parks retired Sparrer but moved Parks to second base. Mason Self followed with a triple to drive in Parks for the Highlanders' first hit and first run of the game. The run was unearned for Davis. The seventh inning opened with a triple by Noah Toole, who was driven in on the next at-bat by a ground out to third, extending Radford's lead to 2–0.
The Maroon and Gold offense was quiet over the final three innings, with just two runners reaching base one a hit-by-pitch and the other via a walk. The two triples proved to be the difference in game one of the series, as the Gaels fell 2–0.
TEAM STATS
- The Gaels were +1 in the hits column.
- Davis and Payamps combined for six strikeouts.
- The Gaels stole two bags on the day.
notable nuggets
- Payamps pitched four no-hit innings with one strikeout looking.
- Junior AJ Oden had a single and a stolen base.
Up Next
- Iona are back in action tomorrow for a double header against the Highlanders. Game one first pitch is set for noon with game two following shortly after.
