POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Iona College baseball team fell to 0-3 in conference play after a 9-6 loss to Marist in the three-game series finale at McCann Baseball Field.  After erasing a 5-2 deficit in the fourth inning, the Gaels were unable to hold off the Red Foxes.

Junior LF Chris Burke, sophomore 1B Chris Griffin and freshmen RHP/DH Chris Burke and CF Dean Dignelli each had two hits in the loss.  Junior 2B Nick Rossetti drove in three runs.

Griffin singled home Passerelle in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.  Passerelle reached base with a two-out triple to center field.  Marist answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame.  Sophomore 3B Michael Sevilla picked up an RBI in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-2. 

The Red Foxes regained a three-run lead with a solo tally in the bottom of the second inning.

The Gaels stormed back in the fourth inning as Rossetti deposited a two-run double the other way into left field.  Two batters later, Passerelle also went the other way with a run scoring single.

Marist answered for the third time in the bottom of the inning with two runs, chasing Burke from the game.

Junior RHP Dylan McCullough kept the deficit to just one run until the bottom of the eighth inning when the home team added two insurance runs.  McCullough tossed four innings, scattering five hits and allowing the two runs with two strike outs.

The Gaels take on New York Tech on Wednesday afternoon at Salesian Field in their 2008 home opener.