New Rochelle, NY- The Iona College baseball team split a doubleheader with Canisius in MAAC action at Salesian Field. Junior RHP Bobby DiNuzzo pitched a seven-hit shutout in the Gaels' 2-0 win over the Golden Griffins (14-28, 7-9 MAAC) in the opener. The visitors forged the split with a 6-1 victory in the night cap.

The Gaels (11-27, 4-12 MAAC) got all the runs they would need in the bottom of the second inning, plating two to take the lead for good. Junior 1B Ralph Marzella scored the first run of the ball game, scampering home from third when senior RF Kevin McGovern got himself in a run down between first and second. Both runners were safe after the shortstop's throw went over the Canisius' catcher's head. With one out, senior 3B AJ Dederick lined a single up the middle to score teammate Keith Kenny to give the squad a two-run lead.

DiNuzzo (2-2) allowed seven hits and walked three in his first shutout in Maroon & Gold. He struck out four batters and was only really in trouble in the final inning. The junior righty allowed a lead off double and pitched out of a jam with runners on first and third with none out.

Eight different Iona players picked up a hit. Dederick recorded the team's lone RBI. Canisius 1B Connor Burke went 2-for-4. RHP Alex MacKenzie (2-7) took the loss.

In the night cap the Gaels again got on the scoreboard in the second inning. Sophomore SS Joe Lorenzo homered for the second time in the three-game series, a second solo shot that cleared the left field fence.

The Griffins scored six unanswered runs to take the win. All three runs in the third inning were of the unearned variety. The Gaels nearly got out of the jam with one out and the bases loaded. C Kevin Riemer hustled down the line to beat out a double play attempt allowing Canisius' first run of the day to score. Back-to-back two out singles by CF Branson Joseph and 3B Kevin Mahoney led to the other two runs in the inning.

A Mahoney solo shot to lead off the fourth inning and a two-run home run by RF Adam Donato in the top of the eighth rounded out the scoring for the contest.

Junior LHP Kevin Carmody (0-3) was on the short end of th decision, tossing eight innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and striking out four on 114 pitches. Freshman RHP Dylan McCullough faced four batters in the ninth. Lorenzo, Abbatiello and Kenny each had two hits.

Canisius RHP Ryan McGorman (3-3) earned the win.

The Gaels tune up with two non-conference tilts on the road on Tuesday and Wednesday when they travel to Stony Brook and Central Connecticut for the first two of a seven-game road swing. They return to MAAC action next weekend at Rider.