Game One

Graduate student Andrelys Payamps started the first two innings strong for the Maroon and Gold, allowing no hits. In the third inning, senior Nickolas Mora reached base on a fielding error. In the following at-bat, freshman Aiden Ciprian drew a walk to move Mora to second. Redshirt-freshman Cole Silvia then singled to left field, driving in Mora from second to give the Gaels an early 1-0 lead.

The bottom of the fourth began with a walk for the Mount. Payamps' no-hit bid ended later in the inning after a one-out double. The next batter for the Mount drove in the runner from third to tie the score at one. The Mountaineers continued to build momentum in the fifth, opening the inning with two consecutive hits and a walk. One of the runners scored on a double to give the Mount a 2-1 lead. A fielder's choice ended the inning and helped Payamps escape a bases-loaded jam.

After a few quiet innings for the Gaels offense, they responded in the sixth. Overton reached first on a fielding error. Junior AJ Oden followed with a single, and sophomore Malachi Costello delivered a double to right field that scored Overton to tie the game at two and moved Oden to third. A fielder's choice by senior Anthony Zollo brought Oden home, giving the Gaels a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

Senior Sean Davis entered the game in the sixth for Payamps and shut down the Mountaineers across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. The Gaels threatened in the ninth with runners on first and second but were unable to add to their lead. Davis then closed the game with a quick 1-2-3 inning to secure a 3-2 win for the Gaels.

Game Two

The Gaels came out strong in the first inning, opening with a walk and a single. With runners on first and second, two consecutive walks allowed senior Damian Rodriguez to score and gave the Gaels an early 1-0 lead. Junior Brendan Callanan also started strong for the Maroon & Gold, recording two strikeouts.

Callanan found himself in a jam in the second inning after allowing a triple and a walk with one out. He escaped the threat with a caught stealing and a fly out to center field, keeping the Gaels ahead 1-0 entering the third inning. A hit by pitch and a couple of defensive miscues by the Gaels allowed the Mount to tie the score at 1-1 heading into the fourth inning.

After allowing a lead off single in the bottom of the fourth, Callanan settled in and retired three consecutive batters to end the inning. Senior Mitchell Murphy opened the top of the fifth with a walk, and redshirt-freshman Cole Silvia followed with a walk of his own. Oden later delivered a single to give the Gaels a 2-1 lead. The Mount responded in the sixth inning, regaining the lead after a walk and two consecutive doubles.

In the top of the seventh, momentum shifted in the Gaels' favor when Murphy was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Overton hit a home run to left field to give the Gaels a 4-3 lead. The Gaels added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Ciprian led off the inning with a double, and Murphy reached base on an error. Murphy later stole second, and a single from Silvia extended the Maroon & Gold lead to 5-3, which would hold as the Gaels secured the victory.

TEAM STATS

• The Maroon & Gold were +3 in hits in the doubleheader. 
• The Gaels currently sit fourth in the MAAC in doubles with 18. 
• Silvia sits fourth in the conference in batting average with a .389. 
• Overton sits second in the conference in doubles with five and first in the conference in home runs. 

notable nuggets

• In game one, Oden batted 3-4 with a run scored.
• In game one, Davis pitched four innings of 2-hit ball, allowing no runs. 
• Callanan pitched five strong innings, only allowing three hits with no earned runs, fanning three.
• In game two, junior Saul Mata pitched two innings, only allowing one hit to secure the save. 
• Ciprian and Silvia both batted .500 in game two as they batted 2/4. 

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