NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University baseball team defeated Sacred Heart 7-6 in game one of its weekend series. An offensive third inning produced a combined five runs and gave Iona a 3-2 lead. The Maroon and Gold added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their advantage. The Pioneers responded with three unanswered runs to tie the game at six. In the bottom of the ninth inning, a single to left field drove in the winning run and lifted the Maroon and & Gold to a walk off victory.
GAME SUMMARY
The scoring began in the second inning as Sacred Heart plated its first run on a single up the middle. The Pioneers carried that momentum into the third inning, adding one run on a throwing error and another on a sacrifice bunt to take a 3-0 lead.
The Maroon and Gold responded in the bottom of the inning, starting with a single from redshirt freshman
Cole Silvia and a walk by senior
Braize Mitchell. Freshman
Aiden Ciprian laid down a bunt to reach base, but Silvia was thrown out at third, leaving runners on first and second. Senior
Damian Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for redshirt sophomore
Sean Stephenson, who grounded out to bring home a run. In the next at bat, sophomore
Malachi Costello singled through the right side to score Rodriguez and Ciprian, tying the game at three.
The Gaels took the lead in the bottom of the fourth as three runs came across. Two bases loaded hit by pitches each forced in a run, and a bases loaded ground out brought home another to give the Gaels a 6-3 advantage. Sacred Heart answered in the top of the sixth with an RBI single to left, trimming the deficit.
Senior
Sean Davis silenced the Pioneers in the seventh and eighth innings. In the ninth, however, Sacred Heart rallied for two runs on a pair of RBI singles to tie the game at six.
In the bottom of the inning, Rodriguez led off with a single to center and advanced to second on a ground out. Costello then delivered again, singling to left center to drive in the game winning run and secure a 7-6 victory for the Gaels.
TEAM STATS
- The pitching staff for the Gaels were able to leave nine runners on the base paths, while striking out 11 batters on the day.
- Davis and Payamps combined to only walk three batters.
- The Maroon & Gold tallied nine hits on the day.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Sophomore Kieran Kehoe and Silvia both batted 2-4.
- Rodriguez cross the plate twice scoring two runs.
- Braize Mitchell reached base via the walk twice.
- Ciprian and Kehoe both are riding a 13 game on base streak.
UP NEXT
The Maroon & Gold return to action on tomorrow for game two of the three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 P.M.