Pirates Rally Past Iona to Knot Series

Published: Saturday, March 22, 2025

by Jacob Glick

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Seton Hall Pirates (9-13) rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Iona Gaels (6-14), 5-4, on Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game series. The win came after the Pirates dropped the series opener, 12-7, on Friday evening.

Cole Hansen got the start for the Pirates, as regular Saturday starter Ryan Reich pitched Friday. Andrelys Payamps started for Iona.

Saturday’s game started much differently than Friday’s, with just two hits between both teams and a 1-0 score after three innings, courtesy of an RBI single by Iona right fielder Matt Wessels.

Iona’s bats came alive in the fourth inning, jumping out to a 4-0 lead on a pair of RBI doubles from Braize Mitchell and Wessels. Damian Rodriguez added an RBI single later in the inning.

The Pirates responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. They loaded the bases with a single by Magnus Krieger and a pair of walks from Aiden Dill and Casey Cumiskey. Krieger and Dill scored on a single by Tommy Manzo, who has emerged as a true threat in the Pirates' lineup in recent games.

Cole Hansen was pulled after the fourth and replaced by junior left-hander John Downing, who worked around two hits for a scoreless fifth. Payamps was also replaced in the fifth by left-hander Carl Kuentzel.

Downing and Kuentzel traded scoreless innings for three more frames, with the score holding at 4-2 heading into the eighth, when the Pirates sparked a rally.

Aiden Robbins led off with a walk and stole second, putting a runner in scoring position for reigning Big East Player of the Week Kevin Milewski. On a 3-2 count, Milewski lined a breaking ball over the shortstop and into left field, scoring Robbins to cut the deficit to one. The hit chased Kuentzel from the game and brought in Joey Kasper.

Magnus Krieger sacrificed Milewski to second, then Aiden Dill followed with a single, putting runners on first and third with one out. After Dill stole second and Cumiskey was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for Tommy Manzo. Manzo delivered, sending Kasper’s 1-1 offering through the hole on the left side of the infield to bring in Milewski and Dill, giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead.

Downing stayed in to finish the ninth, setting the Gaels down in order. He completed five innings of relief, allowing four hits, no runs or walks, and striking out four.

Downing’s strong relief outing gave the Pirates’ arms some much needed rest and provided the momentum allowing Seton Hall to climb back into this game and ultimately come out on top.

The rubber match of the series is set for tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Jack Pine and Oren Mouton will have the call, with live coverage available on WSOU.net.

Jacob Glick can be reached at jacob.glick@student.shu.edu. 

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