QU Baseball Hosts Iona for First Home MAAC Series Saturday and Sunday

Saturday, April 16

Hamden, CT

12 PM

Quinnipiac University

Iona

QU Baseball Hosts Iona for First Home MAAC Series Saturday and Sunday

4/15/2016 11:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: QU Sports Information

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (10-20, 1-5 MAAC) vs.
Iona College Gaels (7-22, 2-4 MAAC)
Date: Saturday, Apr. 16, 2016
Time: 12 PM
Location: QU Baseball Field - Hamden, Connecticut
All-Time Series vs. Iona: 3-0
Last Meeting: W, 6-0 (Apr. 13, 2014 - Hamden, Connecticut)
Probable Starters: Thomas Jankins (2-4, 3.83 ERA) vs. TBD

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (10-20, 1-5 MAAC) vs.
Iona College Gaels (7-22, 2-4 MAAC)
Date: Saturday, Apr. 16, 2016
Time: 3 PM
Location: QU Baseball Field - Hamden, Connecticut
All-Time Series vs. Iona: 3-0
Last Meeting: W, 6-0 (Apr. 13, 2014 - Hamden, Connecticut)
Probable Starters: Taylor Luciani (3-3, 3.13 ERA) vs. TBD

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (10-20, 1-5 MAAC) vs.
Iona College Gaels (7-22, 2-4 MAAC)
Date: Sunday, Apr. 17, 2016
Time: 12 PM
Location: QU Baseball Field - Hamden, Connecticut
All-Time Series vs. Iona: 3-0
Last Meeting: W, 6-0 (Apr. 13, 2014 - Hamden, Connecticut)
Probable Starters: Alex Vargas (0-0, 2.93 ERA) vs. TBD

*Starters are subject to change*

Follow the Bobcats:
Live Video (Game 1 - Apr. 16): QU All-Access
Live Video (Game 2 - Apr. 16): QU All-Access
Live Video (Apr. 17): QU All-Access
Live Stats: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
Twitter - @TheQBaseball

Home Sweet Home
The Quinnipiac baseball team returns to the QU Baseball Field for the first time in 15 games when they host the Iona Gaels in their home MAAC opener on Saturday, Apr. 16 with a doubleheader at 12 PM followed by the series finale on Sunday, Apr. 17 at 12 PM.

All-Time Against Iona
Quinnipiac and Iona have played just three times in the programs' Division I era with the Bobcats sweeping their 2014 season series, 3-0. In that series, the Bobcats had two shutouts and allowed just one run in the entire series. Thomas Jankins pitched a three-hit shutout in the opening game followed and Brandon Shileikis pitched a one-hit shutout in the final game of the series.

Scouting the Gaels
Iona comes into the weekend with a 7-22 record and 2-4 mark in MAAC play. The Gaels are riding a six-game losing streak after taking two of three from the Marist Red Foxes in their MAAC series. Last time out, Iona was routed by Fordham, 19-2, in a mid-week contest on Apr. 12. Five players boast batting averages of .300 or better led by Carmine Palummo's .333 clip. Travis Mistretta has been an offensive juggernaut this season with a .327 batting average, three home runs and 28 RBIs along with 12 stolen bases. Iona's pitching staff has struggled this season, posting an ERA of 6.50 through 29 games this season and opponents are batting .319 against the Gaels.

Last Time Out
The Bobcats scored 16 runs in two mid-week games, including a 7-5 win over the Hartford Hawks on Thursday. Quinnipiac's win comes one day after the came back from down six runs against the Northeastern Huskies but ultimately fell, 12-9, on Wednesday. Matthew Batten led the Bobcats over the two games with five hits and five runs scored while Lou Iannotti drove in a team-high three RBIs and scored three runs.

Lucky 7
Quinnipiac has scored seven runs in four consecutive games, posting a 2-2 record over that span. Overall, the Bobcats have score at least seven runs in nine games this season, going 5-4.

Batman Returns
Batten extended his hitting streak to 10-games, his second longest hitting streak of the season with two hits against the Hartford Hawks. Added to his three-hit game at Northeastern on Wednesday, Batten now has team-high 10-multiple hit games this season. Batten is batting .556 (5 for 9) over the last two games with five runs scored, a double, a home run and a stolen base.

Burn Notice
Joseph Burns has had an incredible week for the Bobcats so far, going 4 for 7 with a double, two RBIs and three walks in two games. This season, Burns has three home runs, three doubles, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored to go along with 18 walks.

Crazy Train
Oestreicher extended his season-high hitting streak to six games with his first three-hit game of the season at Hartford on Thursday. Oestreicher now has three multiple-hit games in 2015-16. He has four hits this week with two runs and two RBIs as he has implanted himself in the Bobcats lineup. His .318 batting average is third on the team with 11 RBIs in just 16 games.

Looks Great! Little Full, Lotta Sap
Julius Saporito had a solid day at the plate against the Hartford Hawks as he went 2 for 5 with a run scored for the Bobcats. Saporito now has four two-hit games for the Bobcats, appearing in 22 games so far.

Highly Productive
Despite just one hit so far this week, Iannotti has still made his impact on the field with three runs scored and a team-high three RBIs as well as three walks. Iannotti's lone hit was a double, his seventh of the season which is tied with Ben Gibson for second on the team. Iannotti is batting .322 with 37 hits, 22 RBIs, 12 runs scored, 12 walks and a .398 on base percentage.

Hot Wheels
Rob Pescitelli has also made his impact this week for the Bobcats with three stolen bases to boost his season total to 15 in the first 30 games. Pescitelli is quickly approaching Batten and Mike Palladino on the single-season stolen base list, where Palladino set the single-season Division I program record with 26 stolen bases. At the plate, Pescitelli's patience has been other worldly as he has 24 walks and five hit by pitches for a .442 on base percentage to go with his 32 hits and .299 batting average.

Count on Me
Matthew Lorenzetti made his best appearance of the season against the Northeastern Huskies on Wednesday, allowing just one hit over three innings with one strikeout. Lorenzetti's outing help the Bobcats erase their six-run deficit during his three innings.

Saving the Day
Robert Hitt picked up his third save of the season with a two-inning effort against the Hawks on Thursday as the Bobcats righty has settled in nicely to his new role as the closer. Hitt has allowed just four earned runs over his last seven appearances with 14 strikeouts. Hitt has also lowered his ERA by nearly three runs over that span.

Luciani's Feelin' It
Taylor Luciani picked up his team-leading third run of the season as he improved to 3-3 in his seventh start of the season. Luciani struck out seven batters in his complete game shutout against the Saints, scattering six hits with one run. Luciani now leads the Bobcats with 46 innings pitched and his 16 earned runs allowed are the fewest among starting pitchers. Luciani is also second on the team with 26 strikeouts.

The Kid Janks
Thomas Jankins picked up six more strikeouts for the Bobcats in 6 1/3 innings pitched in the Bobcats opening loss to the Saints. Jankins' six strikeouts give him five or more strikeouts in six of his seven starts this season. He currently leads the team with 43 strikeouts, just 10 shy of tying his single-season career-high from last season.

In the Hole
The Quinnipiac baseball team will hit the road for two mid-week road games before opening up a nine-game homestand from Apr. 23 to May 3. The Bobcats will travel to Albany, New York to face the Albany Great Danes on Tuesday, Apr. 19 at 3 PM. After a day off on Wednesday, the Bobcats will make up their postponed game at the Rhode Island Rams on Thursday, Apr. 21 in Kingston, Rhode Island at 3 PM.