SPARTANBURG, SC – The Iona College baseball team dropped a doubleheader at Wofford this afternoon in non-conference action at King Field. The Terriers took the opener 14-4 before a three-run eighth inning proved to be the difference in a 7-6 win in the nightcap.
Junior SS Vinny DeMaria led the Gaels in the opener with two hits and two RBI. Junior LF Travis Mistretta, junior DH Zach Brown and freshman CF Jon Budesa each recorded hits in the contest. DeMaria and Budesa both doubled in the loss.
Junior RHP Mariano Rivera took the loss allowing nine runs over 4.1 innings pitched with six strikeouts.
Wofford scored two in the first and two in the fourth and exploded for nine runs in the fifth inning before the Gaels scored their four runs in their final two at bats.
In the night cap, the Gaels used a five-run fifth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit. Four of the runs scored on one turn at bat. With the bases loaded, Mistretta doubled to clear the bases and scored on an error by the Wofford pitcher. In the at bat prior, an infield hit by DeMaria accounted for the Gaels fifth tally.
The Terriers chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and trailed by just one before a decisive eighth inning. With two on and one out, 1B Conor Clancey drilled a 1-0 pitched over the left field fence for a three-run home run and his third, fourth and fifth RBI of the contest.
Mistretta drove in Hoagland in the top of the ninth with two out, but reliever Will Stillman pitched out of the jam for his sixth save of the year.
Sophomore RHP Bill Maier tossed six innings allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out four. Sophomore LHP Andrew Camiolo pitched 1.1 innings in relief and took the loss. Junior RHP John Daddino allowed the home run in the eighth before recording the final two outs.
Iona and Wofford complete a four-game series Sunday in a doubleheader beginning at noon.