ANNADALE-ON-HUDSON, NY- A six-run inning was the savior for the second straight game in the Iona College baseball team’s 6-5 win over Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Bard College’s Honey Field. Sophomore RHP Bill Maier tossed 7.1 strong innings to help lead the Gaels in the win.
After a six-run third inning propelled the Maroon & Gold to a win over Fordham at home Wednesday, Iona used six in the top of the sixth to erase a 2-0 deficit and take the lead for good over the Red Foxes. The game was delayed 97 minutes due to snow flurries prior to first pitch.
Marist scored its runs in the top of the fourth inning. With no out, LF Matt Pagano plated CF Graham McIntire from third base with a safety squeeze bunt. The second run came through after a double to left field by RF Zach Racusin.
The Gaels quickly loaded the bases in the sixth to start the inning. An infield hit by junior RF Kyle DiVico was followed by two hit by pitches to sophomore 3B Tyler Bruno and sophomore 2B Matt Byrne. A line-drive up the middle by senior 1B Jimmy Guiliano plated the first run. Junior LF Travis Mistretta beat out a hit down the first base line to knot the score at 2-2. Two batters later, a third infield hit of the inning by junior C Carmine Palummo allowed two runs to score after an error by the Marist third baseman. With two out, DiVico got his second hit of the inning, driving in two runs with a double to the left centerfield gap to give the Gaels all the runs they would need.
Marist threatened in the eighth inning. After a bloop double to right by McIntire started the frame, Maier recorded his final out on a ground ball to Byrne. A base hit by Pagano scored the run and brought in sophomore RHP Vinny Martin to hold the lead. Two soft singles through the hole on the left and right side of the inning allowed Marist to get within one run. Martin got out of the inning with a nasty 2-2 breaking ball and froze the Red Fox batter in the box.
Junior RHP John Daddino pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out the first two batters to earn his second save of the season.
Maier was charged with four runs on nine hits, tossing 104 pitches in his first win of the season.
Mistretta was 2-for-3 and reached base on a walk while DiVico was 2-for-4 with his single and double in the sixth inning. Guiliano, Palummo and junior DH Alex Beckett each recorded a hit.
The Gaels and Red Foxes complete the three-game series tomorrow at Honey Park in a doubleheader beginning at Noon. Junior RHP Mariano Rivera and graduate LHP Eddie Macaluso take the hill for the Maroon & Gold.