New Rochelle, NY- Canisius scored a run each in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings in a 4-3 win over the Iona College baseball team in MAAC action at Salesian Field. Senior RHP Marty Hand tossed 7.1 strong innings but the Gaels' offense could not figure out Griffs' rookie LHP Mike Goemans.
The Gaels (10-26, 3-11 MAAC) got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore SS Joe Lorenzo picked up his first of two RBI in the contest with a single to left field that scored rookie LF Andrew Passerelle from second base.
The Golden Griffins (13-27, 6-8 MAAC) tied the score in the top of the fourth picking up an unearned run off Hand. DH Brian Gibbs had his first of three identical singles through the left side of the infield and drove in LF Ian Choy to knot the score at 1-1.
Lorenzo put Iona up a run in the fifth with his first home run of the season. The ball carried to left center and drilled the top of the fence before landing over the wall. Goemans had retired eight straight prior to the hit.
Canisius tied the score in the top of the sixth on a Gibbs' second single through the left side. They took the lead in the seventh on a one-out home run by leadoff hitter 1B Connor Burke. The visitors added a key insurance run in the eighth to take a two-run lead. With the bases loaded and one out, 2B Ryan Asis executed a saftey squeeze that was barehanded by Hand. His throw to home however sailed past the Iona catcher allowing the unearned run to cross the plate.
The Gaels threatened in the ninth cutting the deficit to a run. With one out, sophomore C Andrew Wernicki singled to center field and raced around to third when CF Branson Joseph misplayed the hit. Two batters later, junior 1B Ralph Marzella picked up an RBI when he beat out a slow roller to the Canisius' 3B putting the tying run on first with two out. Back to back walks by Lorenzo and PH Keith Kenny loaded the bases. Iona was unable to capitalize as Griffs closer Mike Bax ended the game by inducing a line out to second base.
Passerelle and Lorenzo had two hits a piece in the loss. Hand (3-7) was charged with two earned runs over 7.1 innings, scattering seven hits and striking out four in his hard luck loss.
Gibbs had three of the Griffs' eight hits in the win. Goemans (3-2) allowed three runs and six hits to his former squad and had six K's. Bax earned his second save of the season despite the rocky ninth.
The two teams complete the three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader that begins at 11:00 am.
Please note the change in start time from the originally scheduled noon first pitch.
