New Rochelle, NY - The Iona College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Salesian Field. The Red Foxes (10-12, 5-4 MAAC) used late inning comebacks in both games to sweep the three game series from the Gaels (1-23, 1-8 MAAC).

Marist won a pitching duel in the opener, besting Iona 2-1. Senior RHP Bobby DiNuzzo tossed the first 5.1 innings allowing one earned run (two runs total) on three hits while striking out a season-high eight batters. His classmate, RHP Shawn Walsh, had his second straight effective outing, allowing just one hit of the seven batters he faced.

The Gaels tallied their run in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman 2B Anthony Melendez made the best of his second collegiate hit plating sophomore 3B Mike Walraven with two-out to give the Gaels a 1-0 advantage.

Marist scored once in the fifth and sixth inning to take the lead. The go-ahead run scored in the sixth came with two out when CF Michael Gallic reached on a fielding error.

Walraven was 2-for-3 with the run scored to lead the Gaels offensively.

In the nightcap, Iona trailed after a half inning after the Red Foxes tagged three runs on LHP Kevin Carmody. The Maroon & Gold cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the inning. Walraven doubled home senior DH Allie Abbatiello to account for the tally.

In the bottom of the third, sophomore DH Andrew Passerelle sacrificed with a runner on first and second and one out. On the play, the Marist catcher threw the ball away allowing Salerno to race home from second base as the Gaels trailed 3-2 after three innings.

Iona added two more in the bottom of the sixth to take its first lead of the contest. Abbatiello plated the first run on an RBI single to right field. Passerelle accounted for the second run on a single to center.

Carmody buckled down after a rough first inning allowing just four hits over the next 5.1 innings. He struck out five in the game.

In the top of the eight, Marist evened the score. Leading off the inning LF Ryan Gauck hit a sharp ground ball to the SS Joe Lorenzo. His throw pulled rookie 1B Chris Griffin off the base allowing the batter to reach first base safely. Gauck would later score on Gallic's single through the right side as the score was even at 4-4.

The Red Foxes rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to take lead for good. After a chopper up the middle resulted in a base hit for 3B Kyle Meyer, he was called out at second base when the next batter attempted to sacrifice him to second. Senior RHP Nick Stanziani made a nice play on SS Richard Curylo's bunt attempt and wheeled around to second base to record the out. 2B Ricky Pacione plated the go ahead run on a triple that drew chalk on the right field line and was fair by just inches. Pacione would score an insurance run on a sacrifice fly on a diving catch by RF Chris Leahy.

Stanziani (0-1) took the hard luck loss in relief.

Passerelli was 3-for-4 in the game with his seventh double of the season. Walraven, Abbatiello and Griffin each had two hits.

The Gaels will have a day off tomorrow before two non-conference road tilts at Army and Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Maroon & Gold return to Salesian Field next weekend for a MAAC series against Rider.