NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College baseball team scored six times in the third inning in a 6-1 win over Fordham in non-conference at City Park. A two-run single by junior SS Vinny DeMaria in the frame and three Gael hurlers combined to allow just four hits in the win.
Junior RHP Max Bruckner (1-1) took the mound to start the game and allowed just one hit and struck out four batters to pick up the win as a designated four-inning pitcher prior to the contest. Rookie RHP Joe DeRosa got the ball in the fifth inning and pitched 3.2 innings allowing a run on three hits. Sophomore RHP Vinny Martin retired all four batters he faced to close out the game including the final two via a strikeout.
After a lead off walk to senior DH Steve Basile, rookie 3B Matt Flannery reached base on a sacrifice attempt where Basile was safe on second after an error by the Fordham catcher. Sophomore 2B Matt Byrne and junior LF Jimmy Guiliano both walked to push home the first run of the inning. Two batters later, junior 1B Carmine Palummo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field. After sophomore C Alex Beckett walked to load the bases, rookie CF Jon Budesa drew the fifth free pass of the inning to give Iona a 3-0 lead. DeMaria followed by driving a 1-0 pitch to left field to drive in Beckett and Guiliano. Iona’s final run scored after on a wild pitch.
The Rams used a two-out single through the left side of the infield in the eighth inning to plate their lone tally. First baseman Matthew Kozuch drove in the run following a lead off double by CF Jason Lundy.
The Gaels are return to MAAC action Saturday and Sunday when they travel to Marist for a three-game series. The contests will be played at Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY due to unplayable conditions on the Red Foxes’ home field. A single game will take place Saturday (Mar. 28) at 1:00 pm and a doubleheader on Sunday (Mar. 29) at noon.