LEWISTON, NY —The Iona University baseball team fell 3-2 in game one of its three game series against Niagara. Niagara opened the scoring in the first inning with a ground out to take a 1-0 lead. The Gaels responded in the fifth inning with a single to tie the game at one. The Purple Eagles answered with two unanswered runs to take a 3-1 advantage. Iona added a home run in the ninth inning to cut the deficit to one, but was unable to complete the comeback.
Game summary
Niagara struck first in the bottom of the first inning, scoring on a ground out to the catcher to take a 1-0 lead. The Maroon & Gold threatened in the top of the third, as a single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning. With both pitching staffs settling in, runs and hits were hard to come by until the fifth.
Redshirt junior Jordan Overton reached to lead off the top of the fifth on a throwing error. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a fielder's choice, but was thrown out at third on the play off the bat of junior AJ Oden. Sophomore Malachi Costello was then hit by a pitch, and senior AJ Zollo followed with a single through the left side to tie the game at one.
The Gaels threatened again in the top of the sixth with two outs. Redshirt sophomore Sean Stephenson drew a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball before being replaced on the bases by senior Mitchell Murphy. Overton followed with a walk to put runners on first and second, but a ground out ended the inning.
Niagara regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a home run to left center, making it 2-1. Graduate student Andrelys Payamps exited in the seventh after a strong outing, pitching 7.0 innings while allowing two runs.
In the top of the eighth, the Maroon & Gold threatened once more as freshman Aiden Ciprian led off with a single to center. Sophomore Kiernan Kehoe later walked to put runners on first and second with one out, but a strikeout and ground out ended the rally.
Niagara added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a ground out to extend the lead to 3-1. Costello led off the ninth with his first home run of the season, a shot to left center that cut the deficit to 3-2, but it would not be enough as the Gaels fell by that final score.
TEAM STATS
- The Maroon & Gold pitching staff only allowed three base on balls and tallied eight strikeouts.
- Gael batters were able to tally a total of eight walks.
notable nuggets
- Payamps pitched 7.0 innings while allowing nine hits and two runs with nine strikeouts.
- Costello hit his first collegiate home run in the ninth. He also hit 2-2 on the day with two walks.
- Overton walked twice on the day.
Up Next
The Gaels return to action tomorrow for game two of the three game set. First pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
