EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — Andrelys Payamps and Sean Davis combined for nine hitless innings of relief, and the Iona Gaels capitalized on a critical error to edge the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers 3-2 on Friday in the opener of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Straw Family Stadium.

In a game defined by dominant pitching and defensive miscues, Iona (3-5) snapped a two-game skid despite being out-hit 8-6. Mount St. Mary’s (5-7) saw its three-game winning streak end despite a stellar starting effort.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the sixth inning, breaking a 2-2 deadlock. With two outs and the bases empty, Iona’s OVERTON reached first on an error by Mountaineers second baseman Alex Mendes. AJ Oden followed with a single, and Malachi Costello delivered a go-ahead double to right field, scoring OVERTON. Oden then came home on a groundout by ZOLLO, providing the decisive run. Both tallies in the inning were unearned.

That slim lead was preserved by a phenomenal effort from the Iona bullpen. Starter Andrelys Payamps, the top star for the Gaels, battled through five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out seven. He was lifted after the Mountaineers tied the game in the fifth on an RBI double by Christian Bauman.

Davis entered to begin the sixth and was flawless. He retired all 12 batters he faced over the final four frames, striking out two, to secure the victory. From the sixth inning onward, no Mountaineer reached base.

Mount St. Mary’s starter Serigne Sarre was brilliant in a losing effort, striking out 10 over six innings while surrendering just one earned run on six hits. The Mountaineers’ offense was led by Bauman, who went 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored, and Bryce Rudisill, who added two hits and an RBI.

Iona’s offense was paced by Oden, who went 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Costello, who drove in a run as part of a two-hit day.

The game began as a pitcher’s duel, with Sarre striking out the side in the first. Iona struck first in the third, taking advantage of an earlier error. After a walk and a single, SILVIA drove in CIPRIAN with a single to left for an unearned run.

Mount St. Mary’s answered in the fourth. Bauman walked, advanced to third on a double by David Stokely, and scored on Rudisill’s double. The Mountaineers tied it in the fifth when Bauman’s double plated Joey Agar, who had stolen second after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

Davis’s entry in the sixth halted all momentum, and the Gaels’ two-run response in the top half of the frame stood up. Mount St. Mary’s threatened in the eighth when Rudisill singled and advanced to second on an error, but Davis induced a groundout and a lineout to end the inning.

The announced attendance was 127 at Straw Family Stadium. The loss came despite Interstat’s ELO system giving the Mountaineers a 62.1% probability to win.

The teams were scheduled to complete the doubleheader later Friday. Iona is next scheduled to play at Fordham on Tuesday, while Mount St. Mary’s will travel to face Maryland-Baltimore County the same day.