FARMVILLE, Va. – Iona scored seven runs in the final two innings to stun Longwood, 7-6, Friday at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
Iona (4-8) batted around for four runs in the eighth inning to put pressure on the Lancers (3-9) before a three-run rally in the ninth inning gave the Gaels the lead for good.
 
"Credit them," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said. "They didn't go away, they showed a lot of grit, and fought their way back in and stole one from us. This one hurts, but we're going to have to respond tomorrow."
 
Steven Farkas was strong in the starting role on the mound for the Lancers with a career-high 12 strikeouts, but received no decision. Farkas struck out two batters in each inning pitched, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings.
 
"He really battled for us tonight without his best stuff," Mau said. "It was a start we needed from him."
 
After getting off to a strong start with seven strikeouts in his first 3.2 innings of work, Farkas was hit on the leg by a comeback liner, but stayed in the game and never showed signs of slowing down, allowing just one hit the rest of his outing.
 
"He's a tough kid and he wanted to keep on going," Mau said. "We let him go and he hit his pitch count. He did more than enough today to earn a better outcome."
 
Farkas allowed just eight base runners with five hits and three walks issued, throwing 102 pitches in his first quality start of the season. The scoreless outing was the first for the junior left-hander since striking out 11 batters in 7.0 scoreless innings against Presbyterian April 14, 2017.
 
The 12 strikeouts for Farkas are two shy of the school's Division I record and matched Farkas' career best, first reached in 7.2 innings against Savannah State as a freshman in 2016.
 
Longwood methodically built a 6-0 lead, scoring runs in the second, fourth, sixth, and seventh inning, but never with more than two runs in any frame.
 
"I thought we let their starter stay around too long," Mau said. "I thought we took our foot off the gas a little bit."
 
The Lancers were led offensively by Mac McCafferty, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and one run scored.
 
Justin Mitchell also had a good day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, one walk drawn, and a pair of runs scored.
 
Eric Harp (1-1) took the loss for Longwood, allowing three runs on two hits, three walks, and hit two batters.
 
Kyle Ackley (1-0) picked up the win for Iona out of the bullpen, retiring both batters faced to close out the eighth inning before Iona took the lead in the top of the ninth. Mario Ferraioli nailed down his first save of the year with 1.0 perfect inning, shutting the door on Longwood in the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Lancers struck first with a one-out rally in the second inning. With the bases clear and one down Mitchell walked on five pitches and Antwaun Tucker followed with a walk on a full count offering. Jawan McAllister loaded the bases on a single into center field. With the bases loaded McCafferty singled through the right side, bringing in both Mitchell and Tucker and putting Longwood ahead, 2-0.
 
The Lancers added to the lead in the fourth inning. After McAllister was hit by pitch McCafferty singled, though McAllister was out on the play when the ball hit him in the gap between first and second as he tried to advance. Eli Mercado then walked and Sammy Miller singled to left-center to bring in McCafferty and score Longwood's third run of the game.
 
The Lancers broke through for their first home run of the season to help build the lead. On the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth, Mitchell ripped an offering on a line to right, collecting his fourth career home run to put Longwood ahead, 4-0.
 
The Lancers added two more runs in the seventh inning on an RBI double by Ryan Shull, who later scored in the inning after Nate Blakeney was purposely caught in a rundown between first and second base.
 
Iona batted around in the eighth inning, putting the potential tying run aboard in the frame. Matt Flannery walked to start the inning, followed by a single by Stephen Hansen. Two batters later pinch hitter Seth Hoagland singled to bring in the first Iona run of the game. After Dion Austrie was hit by pitch to load the bases, Fran Kinsey singled to bring in a second run, keeping the bases full.
 
With the bags full and Longwood up 6-2 in the top of the eighth, Harp stepped to the mound to try and put out the fire. After a strikeout, back-to-back hit batters brought in two more runs before Harp got a strikeout to end the inning, Longwood clinging to a 6-4 lead.
 
Iona rallied again in the top of the ninth, but this time to take the lead. Hansen and Tyler Bruno each walked to start the frame. After a sacrifice bunt moved up the runners Austrie walked to load the bases. Fran Kinsey then doubled down the right field line, bringing in a pair of runs to tie the game. The next batter, Sean Scales, singled to third base to bring in the go-ahead run.
 
The series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday between Longwood and Iona. Longwood junior right-hander Cody Boydstun (0-2, 7.63 ERA) is set to pitch game one opposite of Joe DeRosa (1-1, 1.96 ERA) for Iona, while Michael Catlin (1-1, 4.20 ERA) will take the ball in game two for the Lancers. No game two starter has been announced for Iona.
 
First pitch for the first game of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
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