Iona University Athletics

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University baseball team fell to Manhattan 6-3 in game two of the series. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, the Gaels responded with a two-run double to take a 2-1 lead heading into the third. The Jaspers answered with a two-run home run in the top of the third and never relinquished the lead, holding the Gaels to just one run the rest of the way. Manhattan added two insurance runs in the ninth inning to secure the victory.

GAME SUMMARY

Freshman Luke Lang ran into trouble in the first inning as two singles and a walk loaded the bases. With two outs, Lang escaped the jam by recording a strikeout swinging for the final out. In the bottom of the first, redshirt sophomore Sean Stephenson was hit by a pitch and senior Jordan Overton singled to left field to put two runners on with one out, but a strikeout looking ended the Gaels' rally.

The Jaspers struck first in the second inning as an RBI triple brought home a run to give Manhattan an early lead. The Gaels answered in the bottom half of the inning when junior AJ Oden singled and advanced to second on an error. In the next at-bat, senior Nickolas Mora singled to put two runners on for graduate student Chavis Conceicao. With the count at 1-2, Conceicao lined a single down the left field line to score both Mora and Oden, giving the Gaels their first lead of the day.

The Maroon & Gold lead did not last long as a walk followed by a home run to left field gave Manhattan a 3-2 advantage. Both starting pitchers settled in during the fourth and fifth innings, with the two teams combining for just three hits across those frames. In the top of the seventh, Manhattan added another run on an RBI double to left field to extend its lead to 4-2.

The Gaels threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning. Overton led off with a single through the left side, but was erased on a fielder's choice by Zollo in the next at-bat. With Zollo on first, Oden singled to right field. In the following at-bat, Mora reached on a fielder's choice, but Oden was out at second. With runners on the corners, sophomore Andrew Lenski singled to left center to drive in Zollo and cut the Jasper lead to one heading into the ninth as the score stood at 4-3.

The Jaspers led off the ninth with a double and followed it with another double to make the score 5-3. Manhattan added another run on a sacrifice bunt after the runner advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Maroon & Gold were able to get a runner into scoring position in the ninth on a double from Stephenson, but they were unable to continue the rally as they fell 6-3 in game two of the series.

team stats

• Iona pitchers were able to strand 11 batters on the base paths. 
• Gael pitchers were able to strikeout 11 batters on the day which is the most since they faced Canisius on 5/2. 
• The Maroon & Gold total 10 hits on the day. 

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Stephenson (14), Overton (10), and Oden (14) all recorded multi-hit games. 
• Graduate student Tyler Lender pitched 1.0 inning no hits and struck out one. 
• Lang pitched 5.0 innings, allowed seven hits, three earned runs while striking out eight. This is Lang's third game this season with eight or more strikeouts. 
• Conceicao is riding an eight game on base streak. 

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