NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University baseball team defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins 4-2 in game two of the three-game series. Canisius struck first in the second inning on a wild pitch. The Gaels answered in the third with a three-run inning, highlighted by a ground-rule double and a two-RBI single. Each team added one more run. The Maroon & Gold pitching staff held the Griffins hitless over the final four innings to secure the win.
GAME SUMMARY
The first offense of the game came in the top of the second inning, when the Griffins led off with a triple down the left field line. The runner scored in the next at-bat on a wild pitch to give Canisius a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Gaels had two runners on base following two fielding errors, but the next three batters were retired, leaving both runners stranded.
The Gaels put together their first rally in the top of the third inning. Freshman Aiden Ciprian led off with a single to right field, and two batters later, redshirt-sophomore Sean Stephenson singled to put runners on first and second for sophomore Malachi Costello. Costello delivered a ground-rule double to score Ciprian. In the next at-bat, junior AJ Oden singled through the left side to bring in Costello and Stephenson, giving the Gaels a 3-1 lead heading into the fourth inning.
Freshman Luke Lang settled in during the third and fourth innings, allowing just one base runner, who reached on a walk. In the bottom of the fourth, senior Anthony Zollo singled through the left side and stole second to move into scoring position. He advanced to third on a ground out to first and scored on a single up the middle by Braize Mitchell, extending the lead to 4-1.
Canisius responded in the top of the fifth, leading off with a single. The runner advanced to second on a ground out to the pitcher and later scored on an RBI single to left field, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Both pitching staffs then settled in, as neither team recorded a hit in the sixth, seventh, or eighth innings. Sophomore Justin Trinidad entered in relief in the seventh and shut down the Griffins offense over two scoreless innings.
In the top of the ninth, graduate student Tyler Lender came on in relief and closed out the game, retiring the side in order to secure the 4-2 win for the Gaels.
TEAM STATS
- Maroon & Gold pitchers stranded a total of seven Griffs on the base paths.
- Iona pitchers struck out a dozen batters while only allowing four hits.
- This is the Gaels fourth game committing an only an error or less.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Oden went 1-3 with two RBIs and a walk.
- Costello went 1-3 with an RBI and a walk.
- Lang struck out eight batters.
- Trinidad pitched 2.0 innings of relief allowing no hits, three walks, while striking out three.
- Lender recorded his third save of the season.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to action on tomorrow for the rubber match of the three game set. First pitch is scheduled to begin at Noon.
