New Rochelle, NY - The Iona College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Le Moyne in non-conference action at Salesian Field this afternoon. The Gaels lost a pitching duel in the opener 3-2 before falling 12-3 in the nightcap.

Senior RHPs Shane Sveda and Eric Beaulac went toe-to-toe for seven plus innings allowing an unearned run each before handing the game to the bullpen. Sveda went 7.1 innings scattering six hits and striking out five. Beaulac - coming off a no-hitter at Rider last weekend - allowed three hits and struck out 12 batters as each starter recorded a no-decision.

The Gaels got their run in the bottom of the third inning. Senior 2B Ralph Marzella's grounder up the middle found a hole and scored sophomore RF Dylan McCullough from second base. McCullough led off the inning with a hit by pitch and was advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt by Beaulac.

Le Moyne scratched across its run in the top of the fifth. A Stephen Crawford single to right field was misplayed allowing 2B Chris Murphy to score from first base. Murphy reached on a two-out walk.

The Dolphins got their go ahead runs in the top of the ninth inning. An RBI single and a fielding error by the Gaels led to the a 3-1 Le Moyne lead.

The Maroon & Gold rallied in the bottom of the ninth. An infield single by junior SS Joe Lorenzo followed by LF Andrew Passerelle's walk put runners on first and second with no out. A wild pitch on a strikeout put the duo on second and third. Freshman 1B Chris Griffin picked up an RBI on a ground out before Dolphin RHP Brandon Otto got the final out of the contest to seal the 3-2 win.

Senior RHP Shawn Walsh took the loss in relief. Otto earned the victory. Lorenzo was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the contest.

Game two followed the pattern of its predecessor for the first four innings. Each team scored twice with Le Moyne having to rally to tie each time. The Dolphins exploded for 10 runs in the final three innings to earn the doubleheader sweep.

The Gaels struck first in the bottom of the opening inning as junior C Andrew Wernicki recorded a sacrifice fly to center field. Le Moyne tied the score in the top of the third with a two-out single by Crawford.

Iona took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Passerelle. Sophomore CF Chris Leahy made a nice slide to avoid a tag on a throw from centerfield that beat the runner to the base. The lead was short lived though as another two-out single tied the score at two a piece.

The Dolphins opened up the game with six runs in the top of the fifth. Chris Edmonson's three-run double was the big blow. They would add four more in the seventh on two two-run home runs by Edmonson and 1B Corey O'Neill.

Senior RHP Bobby DiNuzzo took the loss. Luke Nelllis earned the win. Griffin led the Gaels with a 3-for-3 effort. Leahy and Lorenzo had two hits a piece in the loss.

The two teams complete the three-game series in Iona's season finale tomorrow morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am. Please note the change in start time due to the forecast inclement weather tomorrow afternoon. Senior Day festivities will take place at 10:45 am at Salesian Field.