Manzo, Downing Deliver In Win Over Iona, 5-4

Saturday, March 22

South Orange, N.J.

1 p.m.

Seton Hall University

9-13

Iona

6-14

Iona

Seton Hall

3/22/2025 10:35:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

South Orange, N.J. — John Downing tossed five scoreless innings of relief and Tommy Manzo went 2-for-4 while driving in four of the Seton Hall baseball team's five runs as the Pirates defeated Iona, 5-4, to even up the series on Saturday afternoon.

Downing, who moved to 4-0 on the season after picking up the winning decision, matched his career high with four strikeouts. Manzo set a season and career high with four RBI and Kevin Milewski went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

How It Happened

Seton Hall's Cole Hansen started off strong with two strikeouts in the top of the first inning. In the bottom half, the Pirates were able to load the bases but unable to scratch a run across. Iona made the Pirates pay in the top of the second with an RBI single that gave the Gaels a 1-0 lead.

Hansen retired the side in order in the top of the third before Iona pushed across three runs in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 4-0. The Pirates answered in the home half of the fourth with two runs. Magnus Krieger led off the inning with a single to center field and Aiden Dill drew a walk to put two runners on. With the bases loaded and no one out, Manzo stepped to the plate and singled to left center field that drove in Krieger and Dill and cut Seton Hall's deficit to two, 4-2.

Downing came out of the bullpen for the Pirates in the top of the fifth and was able to keep the Gaels off the board in the next three innings, picking up strikeouts to end the fifth and seventh.

In the bottom of the eighth inning and the Pirates still trailing 4-2, Aiden Robbins led off with a walk before stealing second base with Kevin Milewski at the plate. Milewski would deliver with a single to left that plated Robbins easily from second, making it a 4-3 ballgame. With the bases loaded and one out, Manzo rocketed a single between third and shortstop that drove in two runs to give Seton Hall a 5-4 lead. Downing would deliver once in the top of the ninth inning where he worked a one-two-three inning to seal the win and tie up the series at one game a piece.

Up Next

The rubber game between the Pirates and the Gaels will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Stadium.