BALTIMORE, MD — The Iona University baseball team fell to UMBC 12-2 in game two of their three-game series. The Retrievers set the tone early, scoring four runs in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead. The Gaels struggled to find their rhythm at the plate, finishing with just five hits in the contest. UMBC continued to build on its lead late, adding eight runs over the final three innings to secure the victory.
GAME SUMMARY
UMBC opened the evening with a strong offensive showing in the bottom of the first, beginning the inning with a lead off walk. Two batters later, the Retrievers hit a home run to left field to take an early 2-0 lead. Following the home run, they recorded two consecutive singles to put runners on first and second with one out. The next batter delivered an RBI double to extend the lead to 4-0.
Both offenses remained quiet until the fifth inning. Sophomore Kiernan Kehoe led off the top of the fifth with a single. Senior
Anthony Zollo reached on an error, putting two runners on with no outs. The next three batters for the Maroon and Gold were retired, ending the threat.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Retrievers added two runs as a throwing error and a sacrifice fly allowed them to extend their lead to 6-0. The Gaels got on the board in the top of the sixth.
Senior
Damian Rodriguez led off the inning with a single to the third baseman. Redshirt sophomore
Sean Stephenson followed with a single up the middle, advancing Rodriguez to third. Sophomore
Malachi Costello reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Rodriguez to score Iona's first run of the game.
UMBC broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs on three hits. The inning included a two-run RBI double, two RBI singles, and a steal of home that pushed the lead to ten runs.
Zollo reached base again with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a walk by freshman
Aiden Ciprian. Graduate student
Chavis Conceicao singled to left field to drive in Zollo and add another run. UMBC secured the 12-2 victory in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off RBI single, ending the game by the ten-run mercy rule.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to action tomorrow for final game of the three-game set. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.