NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College baseball team dropped its third extra inning contest in its first six games in a 14-13 decision at North Carolina A&T in non-conference action at War Memorial Stadium. Rookie 2B Sean Breen hit his first two collegiate home runs and five other Gaels recorded multiple hits in the loss.
Junior DH Lou Matarazzo went 3-for-7 with a run scored and three RBI including a two-run double in the sixth inning. Senior LF Travis Mistretta was 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI. He had a run scoring single to give Iona an 11-9 advantage in the seventh. Breen, junior IFs Matt Byrne and Tyler Bruno, sophomore OF Jon Budesa each had two hits. Breen cracked a two-run home run in the in the sixth and a solo shot in the eighth to put Iona ahead 12-11. Bruno’s two RBI came on a sac fly in the second and a fielder’s choice in the fourth. Byrne drove in runs in the second and fourth innings. Budesa and junior C Alex Beckett led the Gaels with three runs scored a piece.
Iona led 13-11 entering the bottom of the ninth and surrendered two runs to extend the game into extra innings. The Aggies scored with one out in the bottom of the 12th.
Five pitchers combined in the loss. Senior RHP Alex Fishberg was the most effective tossing a scoreless seventh and eighth innings. He entered the game with the bases loaded, struck out the two batters he faced and recorded the third out on the bases before a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Iona and NC A&T complete the three-game series Sunday afternoon.