NEW ROCHELLE, NY- The Iona College baseball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to forge a 5-5 tie in a darkness and weather shortened game at Salesian Field. The non-conference tilt was called after nine innings.
The visiting Pioneers put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning to take an early lead. A two-run single by 2B Hunter Phillips was followed by a run scored on a wild pitch to account for the tallies.
The Gaels got a run back in the bottom on freshman RF Matthew Simone's two-out RBI single up the middle that scored sophomore 1B Chris Griffin.
Sacred Heart added two more in the fourth to take a 5-1 advantage. Back-to-back RBI hits by Phillips and CF Mike Drowne led to the runs. Sophomore RHP Matthew Casino closed out the inning by inducing a fly out to centerfield with the bases loaded.
Griffin cut the deficit to three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with a lead off solo shot deep over the left field fence on a 2-2 count.
In the eighth, junior LF Andrew Passerelle welcomed Pioneer relief pitcher James Ineson by depositing a double down the right field line. After Griffin walked, Passerelle scored on an RBI single by rookie 2B Chris Burke. Sacred Heart induced a ground ball double play putting Griffin on third. Senior C Andrew Wernicki then legged out a triple that landed just fair down the right field line and squirted along toward the fence. Simone beat out a slow roller to shortstop to knot the score at five a piece.
Casino had a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth. Simone started the inning off with a nice defensive play by in right field. He lept over the fence in foul territory to secure the first out of the inning.
Rookie SS Eric Capowski singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth and advanced to second on a passed ball. Sacred Heart RHP Mike Olszyk recorded the final two outs before the umpires called the game due to darkness. A light drizzle turned into a heavier rain in the last frame, forcing the decision to be made to end the game in the 5-5 tie.
Casino cruised over the final five innings, keeping the Pioneers off the scoreboard an allowing the Iona comeback. The righty side-armer allowed two hits and walked three while also striking out three in the no decision.
Capowski, Burke, Wernicki, Simone and junior 3B Nick Rossetti each had two of the Gaels 12 hits in the contest. Rossetti posted two doubles.
Drowne and Phillips had three hits a piece for the visitors.
With a bye-weekend for MAAC contests this weekend the Gaels will travel to Orono, ME this weekend for four games vs. the America East's Maine.
