NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University baseball team kicked off a three game set against the Merrimack Warriors on Friday. After a difficult first inning in which the Gaels allowed four runs, the pitching staff settled in. The Gaels responded by scoring a run in three consecutive innings to begin the game, but they were unable to spark a late rally and fell in game one by a score of 4-3.
Game summary
The Warriors opened the game with three consecutive walks. Two of the three runners were driven in following a single through the left side. Two batters later, the third run scored on an RBI single. Later in the first inning, another runner scored on a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-0. The Gaels got their first runner on base courtesy of a hit by pitch. Junior AJ Oden then walked, which advanced redshirt-sophomore Sean Stephenson to second. A single from redshirt-freshman Cole Silvia drove in the Gaels' first run of the game to make the score 4-1.
Graduate student Andrelys Payamps settled in after a difficult first inning and came out strong in the second with a 1-2-3 frame. Senior Nickolas Mora singled to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch before stealing third. Mora later scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Damian Rodriguez. Redshirt-junior Jordan Overton led off the bottom of the third with a walk on four straight pitches. After advancing two bases, a foul-out sacrifice fly from senior Anthony Zollo allowed the Gaels to pull within one run.
Both offenses remained quiet until the sixth inning. The Warriors threatened with no outs after a single and a walk to begin the inning, but Payamps retired the next three batters to escape the jam. Senior Sean Davis entered in relief in the seventh. In the eighth, Davis found himself in trouble when the bases were loaded with two outs, but a ground out to second base ended the threat.
In the Maroon and Gold's attempt at a comeback in the ninth, Zollo led off the inning with a walk and was pinch-run for. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second. Mora was then hit by a pitch, giving the Gaels runners on first and second with one out. The runners advanced a base on a ground out to short. Rodriguez stepped to the plate with a chance to win the game, but a diving catch ended the game as the Gaels fell 4-3.
TEAM STATS
- Davis and Payamps were able to fan 12 Merrimack batters.
- The Gaels put the ball in play for 22 of their 27 outs.
notable nuggets
- Davis pitched three innings only allowing two hits.
- After the first inning Payamps, did not allow a single run in five consecutive innings and only allowed two hits.
- Mora went 1-3 with a single, stolen base and hit-by-pitch.
Up Next
The Gaels return to action at City Park tomorrow for game two of the three game set vs. Merrimack. First pitch is set to begin at 1 P.M.
