Buffalo, NY- The Iona College baseball team dropped a 12-6 decision to Canisius in the series finale in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Demske Sports Complex. Sophomore 3B Mike Walraven led the Gaels (1-19, 1-5 MAAC) with three hits in the contest.

Iona jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one and a half innings. Senior CF Paul Salerno crossed the plate for the game's first run in the top of the first inning when junior SS Joe Lorenzo's smash was mishandled by the Canisius second baseman. Lorenzo scored three batters later on a strikeout. A ball in the dirt was thrown away by the Canisius catcher allowing Lorenzo to cross the plate.

In the second inning, sophomore RF Chris Leahy plated rookie 2B Michael Sevilla on an RBI single.

Canisius (19-2, 3-0 MAAC) got two runs back in the bottom of the second inning and erased the deficit and took a lead with three runs in the next frame.

Iona rallied back for three runs of its own in the top of the fifth. Walraven's infield single with the bases loaded allowed senior DH Allie Abbatiello to score. Lorenzo came in from third place on sophomore LF Andrew Passerelle's double play ball. Sevilla drove in the innings third run with a two-out triple.

The lead would be short lived as the Golden Griffins took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. They would add five more runs in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the series sweep.

In addition to Walraven's multi-hit effort, Abbatiello, Leahy and Sevilla each earned two hits in the contest. Sevilla's triple was the lone extra base hit for the Gaels.

Senior RHP Bobby DiNuzzo (0-4) took the loss. Canisius' Ryan McGorman (2-1) earned the win in relief.

The Gaels will take on Sacred Heart on Wednesday (Apr. 2) afternoon in their Salesian Field opener. First pitch in New Rochelle is slated for 3:30 pm.