STATEN ISLAND, NY - The Iona College baseball team came back form a six-run first inning deficit and outlasted Wagner 9-8 in non-conference action at Richmond County Bank Stadium. Rookie RHP Jordan Gilruth retired the final two batters and stranded the tying run on third base to pick up his first collegiate save.
Junior RHP John Kassebaum earned the win in his first decision of the season. Kassebaum settled down after the frist inning that included three Iona errors and scattered five hits over the next five innings. He tossed six innings in total and allowed three earned runs.
The Gaels got two runs back in the third inning. An RBI fielder's choice by rookie 3B Matt Simone plated the first run. Rookie DH James Beck scored two batters later on a wild pitch to make the score 6-2.
In the fifth, the Maroon & Gold narrowed the deficit to just a single run. After a lead off walk to Simone and a double by rookie CF Dean Dignelli, junior 2B Nick Rossetti drove in the first run of the frame with a single. With Rossetti taking off for second, Dignelli raced home on a passed ball to make the score 6-4. Rossetti scored two batters later on sophomore C Chris Griffin's RBI base hit.
Iona had another three run inning in the seventh inning to take an 8-6 advantage. Senior 1B Andrew Wernicki drew a bases loaded walk. He was followed by an RBI groundout by freshman RF Colin Lyall. Griffin also scored on the play as he raced around from second base on an error by the Seahawk first baseman.
Wagner closed in to with in a run in the bottom of the inning. The Gaels added a key insurance run in the eighth. Junior LF Andrew Passerelle drove in Rossetti after his one out double to make the score 9-7.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, the Gaels stranded a runner in the ninth to set up a wild bottom of the inning for both teams.
After senior LHP William Dorsa walked the first batter he was relieved on a 2-0 count by sophomore RHP Matthew Casino. Casino put the next batter on with two straight balls. Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch putting the tying run on second base with no out. A sac fly plated the eighth run for Wagner but held the runner on second base. Gilruth came on and induced two straight ground outs to seal the Gaels win.
Rossetti, Passerelle and rookie SS Eric Capowski each had two hits in the win. Rossetti had a double and two stolen bases while Dignelli also recorded a double.
The Gaels continue their five-game road trip with a MAAC series at Fairfield this weekend beginning Saturday (May 2) at noon.
