WASHINGTON, DC - The Iona College baseball team finished their best weekend of the season with a pair of victories over George Washington Saturday afternoon. In game one, the Gaels were aided by two hits and three runs batted in by junior DH
James Beck in a 6-3 victory. In game two, two runs in the top of the seventh led led the Gaels to a come from behind 3-2 victory.
In the opener, the Gaels trailed early when the Colonials scored twice in the home second. RF Tyler McCarthy led off with a double and was driven in on a single from LF Owen Beightol. Beightol stole second and was driven in by a double from CF Brendon Kelliher.
The Gaels cut the lead in half with a run in the second when freshman RF
Joe Smith's fielder's choice scored junior 3B
Chris Burke. GW answered with another run in the second on a McCarthy sacrifice fly to regain the two run advantage.
In the third, Iona erupted for four runs. Freshman LF
Joe Torres drove in senior C
Chris Griffin with a double. Sophomore S Matt Kriss followed with a double of his own before Beck homered to center to give Iona a 5-3 lead. The Gaels added another run in the eighth on an RBI single by Burke.
Eddie Macaluso (1-0) picked up the Iona win, going six innings, allowing three runs and five hits. Joe Richardson (0-3) was the losing pitcher, allowing five runs, four earned in six inings.
In game two, Iona took a 1-0 lead in the second when Burke hit his first home run of the season. GW tied the score in the bottom of the inning without recording a hit. McCarthy was hit by a pitch and stole second, moving to third on the play on an error by the Iona catcher. He scored on a ground out by C Ryan Thomas.
The Colonials took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a sacrifice bunt by McCarthy that scored SS Brett Bowers. Iona trailed until the top of the seventh when they took the lead for good.
Smith led off with a single and stole second. With two out and Smith on third and Torres on first, Kriss singled to left, scoring both runs.
Senior
Brian Callahan (1-0) picked up the win in relief, allowing just one hit and one run in 2.2 innings of work. Bobby Lucas (0-2) took the loss for the Colonials, allowing just four hits but all three Iona runs.
The Gaels travel to the Philadelphia area for a three game set at the Villanova Classic, beginning with a contest with Saint Joseph's on Friday, Mar. 11 at 3:00 pm.
