TEANECK, NJ- The Iona College baseball team suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 defeat in 10 innings at Fairleigh Dickinson this afternoon. The Knights (6-20) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie and the game winning run in the final inning defeat the Gaels (1-25).

The Gaels took a 5-0 lead after two innings with a run in the first and four in the second. Sophomore LF Andrew Passerelle pushed across the first run of the contest with a sacrifice fly that scored senior CF Paul Salerno. In the second, rookie 2B Greg Zambrella plated sophomore RF Chris Leahy with an RBI single with a single through the left side of the infield. Two batters later, senior DH Allie Abbatiello smashed his first home run of the season over the right centerfield fence. The shot drove in three runs to give Iona a five run cushion.

Fairleigh Dickinson crawled back with a run in the bottom of the second before scoring three in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-4. With two out in the ninth, the Knight's RF Matt Maher singled down the right field line to drive in the game-tying run. The home team would end the game on when 2B Andrew Ahn scored on a broken play with two down in the 10th inning.

Salerno was the lone Gael with multiple hits with a 2-for-5 effort and a run scored. Abbatiello drove in the three runs with the home run. It was his team leading 12th collegiate round tripper. Sophomore LHP William Dorsa started the game, tossing three effective innings, scattering six hits allowing a run with three strikeouts. Rookie RHP Mike McManemin (0-1) took the loss.

Iona returns to action and to MAAC play this weekend when they host Rider for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday (Apr. 12) at Salesian Field.