QU Baseball Sweeps Thrilling Doubleheader with Iona, 2-0 and 4-3 in 13 Innings

Saturday, April 16

Hamden, CT

12 PM

Quinnipiac University

11-20, 2-5

Iona

7-23, 2-5

IONA

Quinnipiac

QU Baseball Sweeps Thrilling Doubleheader with Iona, 2-0 and 4-3 in 13 Innings

4/16/2016 7:31:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: QU Sports Information

HAMDEN, Connecticut – The Quinnipiac baseball team swept their doubleheader Saturday afternoon with the Iona Gaels, winning game one 2-0 before pulling out the marathon second game in 13 innings, 4-3.

Thomas Jankins (West Brookfield, Massachusetts) took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of game one before finishing with eight shutout innings for the Bobcats. He allowed just two hits in the game with one walk and eight strikeouts.

John Bodenhamer (Maple Valley, Washington) was the hero in game two of the doubleheader as he had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 13^th inning to lift the Bobcats past the Gaels. Bodenhamer drove in Rob Pescitelli (Bayshore, New York) to score the game-winning run.

The Bobcats improve to 12-20 on the season as they extend their season-long winning streak to three games, and also improve to 3-5 in MAAC play. Iona falls to 7-24 with the loss and 2-6 in the MAAC.

Quinnipiac's 13-inning contest with Iona is the longest game in Quinnipiac baseball's Division I history. Last season, the Bobcats played a 12-inning game with the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils in Hamden. The six extra innings were the most extra innings played in program history with the game lasting three hours and 30 minutes.

Brian Moskey (Higganum, Connecticut) led the Bobcats with four hits, two doubles, one walk and a pair of runs scored in the doubleheader. Despite getting just one hit, Pescitelli scored a team-high three runs in the doubleheader where he also walked, was hit by a pitch and stole a base.

Game One:
Jankins dazzled in game one for the Bobcats, not allowing a hit until the eighth inning and just three batters over the minimum for the entire game. His two-hit shutout of the Gaels was the second time he threw eight shutout innings this season, lowering his ERA to 3.22 and already throwing 51 strikeouts this season.

Just two baserunners reached in the first seven innings of the game and only one baserunner reached second base on Jankins.

Moskey and Matthew Batten (Shelton, Connecticut) each went 3 for 4 in the first game with Moskey ripping two doubles and scoring a run while Batten had one double and drove in a RBI. Julius Saporito (Manalapan, New Jersey) recorded the only other hit for the Bobcats as he went 1 for 3.

The Bobcats struck first in the bottom of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Aron Fried (Ossining, New York) walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third base on Moskey's RBI double down the left field line. Batten followed up with a RBI single to right field that scored Fried. The Bobcats tried to get another run as Batten stole second and Moskey attempted to come home but was thrown out at the plate.

Both Jankins and Iona pitcher Bill Maier really settled in over the next four innings as neither pitched allowed a hit until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Quinnipiac added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Moskey doubled to left center to lead off the inning and Batten moved him up to third with a bunt single to third base. Pescitelli lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Moskey.

Robert Hitt (Suffield, Connecticut) came on to pitch the top of the ninth inning and slam the door shut for his fourth save of the season.

Game Two:
Seven different Bobcats recorded hits in game two of the doubleheader, led by Pescitelli's single, walk and three runs scored, including the game-winning run. Moskey scored the other run for the Bobcats while Bodenhamer went 1 for 2 with the game-winning RBI.

Taylor Luciani (Berlin, Connecticut) shined for the Bobcats on the hill once again, pitching six innings for the eighth consecutive start. He allowed three runs, just one earned, on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Bobcats' bullpen was even better as they allowed just one hit over seven innings with seven strikeouts. Justin Thomas (Enfield, Connecticut) pitched the final four innings of the game to pick up the win with one hit, two walked and four strikeouts.

Iona struck first in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead without recording a single hit. Jon Budesa and Matt Byrne each reached base on errors before Sean Breen lined out to Luciani, who threw the ball away as he tried to double up a runner but threw the ball away. Both Budesa and Byrne came around to score on the play.

Quinnipiac tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as Moskey opened up the inning with a leadoff single. Batten sacrificed him to second base before Pescitelli singled to put runners on the corners. Pescitelli then stole second base, and the throw from catcher Carmine Palummo went to the outfield allowing Moskey to score easily and Pescitelli to go to third base. Iannotti then brought home Pescitelli with an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Gaels reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth inning with Byrne scoring on Breen's single to right centerfield.

After stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bobcats tied up the game once again. Pescitelli was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. An Iannotti ground out advanced Pescitelli to third where he came home to score on Matthew Oestreicher's (North Haven, Connecticut) RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.

Both teams traded scoring opportunities before the Bobcats took the game in the bottom of the 13^th inning. Pescitelli reached on an error by the second baseman Breen. Iannotti sacrificed him to second base where Bodenhamer brought him home on a 2-2 single through the right side of the infield.

Quinnipiac and Iona will face off in the final game of the weekend series on Sunday, Apr. 17 with first pitch set for 12 PM at the QU Baseball Field.