Post by The Cats on Feb 15, 2024 15:44:44 GMT -5
Who: Iona Gaels
When: Friday, February 16 - Sunday February 18, 2026
Times: Fri. 4:00 pm; Sat. 1:00 pm (updated); Sun. 1:00 pm
Where: Childress Field, Cullowhee, NC
TV/video: ESPN+ (Friday & Sunday only)
-announcer: Daniel Hooker (PxP)
Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
Nickname: Gaels
Location: New Rochelle, New York
Colors: Maroon and gold
Students: 3,590
Mascot: Killian
Last season's record: 13-38 overall, 7-5 home, 6-31 away, 0-2 neutral, 9-15 MAAC
Head Coach: Conor Burke (3rd season) - Burke, a Long Island native, joins the Maroon & Gold after most recently serving as an assistant coach at the Ivy League's Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Burke spent the last two years at Dartmouth, where he served as the recruiting coordinator and was primarily responsible for working with hitters and outfielders. Conor's college coaching resume also includes time with Adelphi University, Concordia College and Queens College. In addition to his roles as a collegiate coach, Burke was the national recruiting coordinator for the Bayside Yankees, an elite travel baseball program based out of New York City. Conor is a 2012 graduate of Queens College (N.Y.) with a degree in Media Studies. He served as captain of the Knights baseball team as a senior. Prior to enrolling at Queens, he captained Suffolk Community College to an appearance in the NJCAA Word Series.
Burke's Record at Iona: 18-75
Burke's Record vs. WCU: 0-0
Beck's Record vs. Iona: 0-0
Series History: The two teams met in a three game series in Cullowhee in March of 2012, the Cats swept the series.
Iona was picked ninth in the 11 team MAAC preseason poll, with no players selected for the pre-season all-conference honors, however at the end of last season sophomore infielder Anthony Zollo was tabbed to the All-Rookie team.
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Game 1 – Friday, Feb. 16 | 4:00 pm | Coverage: ESPN+
IONA – Jr. RHP Andrelys Payamps (2023: at Monroe College – 11 app., 11 GS, 6-4, 4.32, 81K, 41 BB)
WCU – R-Jr. RHP Cannon Pickell (2023: DNP)
Game 2 – Saturday, Feb. 17 | 1:00 pm (UPDATED) Coverage: Live Stats
IONA – Jr. LHP Carl Kuentzel (2023: 13 app., 5 GS – 1-3, 6.14 ERA, 34K, 24 BB)
WCU – RHP Spenser Hamblen (2023: at FDTC – 16 GP, 16 GS – 12-1, 3.99 ERA, 46K, 25 BB)
Game 3 – Sunday, Feb. 18 | 1:00 pm | Coverage: ESPN+
IONA – So. RHP Michael Lorenzetti (2023: 13 app., 4 GS – 1-3, 9.72 ERA, 28K, 34 BB)
WCU – Sr. LHP Kyle Riesselmann (2023: 14 app., 13 GS – 1-3, 8.15 ERA, 39K, 20 BB)
