LOUDONVILLE, NY — The Iona University baseball team split a Friday doubleheader against the Siena Saints. Game one featured a back-and-forth battle throughout all nine innings before a late three-run rally in the ninth lifted the Saints to a walk-off victory. In game two, the Gaels erupted for seven runs in the second inning, highlighted by a pair of home runs, to power their way to a decisive win and earn a split of the twin bill.
Game One
The scoring started early in game one of the doubleheader as senior Damian Rodriguez reached on a Siena fielding error and advanced to second on a failed pick off attempt. In the next at-bat, senior Anthony Zollo drew a walk. Rodriguez and Zollo then both advanced on a throwing error by the catcher. Sophomore Malachi Costello followed with a walk to load the bases. Redshirt sophomore AJ Oden and junior AJ Oden then delivered consecutive bases-loaded walks to give the Gaels an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Junior Brendan Callanan ran into his first trouble in the bottom of the second with two outs and the bases loaded, but escaped the jam with a ground out to end the inning. Siena's offense broke through in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on four hits behind two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly to take its first lead of the game, 3-2.
Freshman Aiden Ciprian walked in the top of the fourth, later stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch to give the Gaels a prime opportunity to tie the game. With two outs, Zollo lined a single down the right field line to score Ciprian and knot the game at three heading into the bottom of the inning. The tie would not last long, as Siena answered with four runs on four hits. The Saints scored on a sacrifice fly, a two-run single up the middle, and an RBI single to extend their lead to 7-3 heading into the fifth.
In the back-and-forth battle, the Gaels responded in the sixth. A walk and stolen base from Rodriguez sparked the rally before Costello launched a home run to cut into the Saints' lead. Later in the inning, Stephenson doubled to right-center and was driven in on an RBI single to right from Oden to make it 7-6. Senior Nickolas Mora followed with a single to put runners on the corners. The Gaels then executed a double steal that allowed Oden to steal home and tie the game at seven.
As the bottom of the seventh began, the Saints regained the lead with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to make it 9-7 heading into the eighth. With the innings dwindling for the Maroon & Gold, the offense answered once again in the eighth by scoring four runs on three hits. Mora drove in two runs with a single, and Ciprian followed with a two-run single to push the Gaels back in front, 11-9, heading into the bottom of the inning.
The score remained 11-9 with three outs to go for the Maroon & Gold, but the Saints would not go down quietly. An RBI single cut the deficit to one before another single to left-center loaded the bases. Siena then delivered a two-run double to right-center to walk off the Gaels and secure a 12-11 victory in game one.
Game Two
The Maroon & Gold flexed their power early to begin game two. In the bottom of the second, redshirt junior Jordan Overton led off the inning with a single before Stephenson followed with a base hit of his own. With runners on the corners, Oden drew a walk to load the bases for Mora. Facing a 3-1 count, Mora launched a towering grand slam to left field to give the Gaels an early 4-0 lead.
The offense continued to pour it on in the second inning. Ciprian drew a walk, and Rodriguez reached on a fielding error to put runners on first and second for Costello. With the count at 1-2, Costello crushed a three-run homer to left field to extend the Gaels' advantage to 7-0.
Freshman Luke Lang dominated through the first two innings, retiring every batter he faced before running into some trouble in the third. Lang allowed four hits and one run in the inning, with Siena scoring on an RBI single.
In the top of the fourth, the Gaels' offense stayed hot as back-to-back RBI doubles from Overton and Stephenson pushed the lead to 9-1. Both offenses quieted down the rest of the way, as neither side recorded a multi-hit inning from the fourth inning on. The Gaels cruised the rest of the way to secure a convincing 9-1 victory.
TEAM STATS
- The Maroon & Gold totaled 21 hits and 20 runs on the day.
- Maroon & Gold pitchers struck out 12 batters on the day.
- Iona batters reached base via the walk 18 times.
- Gael runners stole base nine times in game one.
notable nuggets
- Costello went 2-3 with two RBIs and three walks in game one.
- Mora and Ciprian also had multi-hit games in game one.
- Oden reached base via the walk three times in game one.
- In game two, Lang pitched 8.0 innings allowing only six hits and one run. He struck out six batters.
- Stephenson went 3-5 with an RBI in game two.
- Cirprian, Overton and Costello all had multi-hit games in game two.
- Costello is now top 10 in Home Runs in the MAAC.
- Rodriguez is top four in the MAAC in SB (20).
Up Next
The Gaels return to action on Sunday for the rubber match of the three game set. First pitch is set to begin at 1 p.m.
