NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College baseball junior SS Matthew Kriss' walk-off sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning led the Gaels (11-18, 3-6 MAAC) to a thrilling 9-8 win over Siena in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Salesian Field. The Maroon & Gold withstood a late comeback attempt by the Saints (10-21, 1-5 MAAC) to take the three-game series at home.

Junior 1B Michael Chiaravalloti was the hitting star for Iona in the win, driving in five of the Gaels nine runs with a three-run home run in the first inning and a two-run double in the seventh. Senior 2B Nick Rossetti hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning and junior C James Beck was 3-for-4 with two doubles in the win.

The Gaels opened the contest with a four run first inning. Beck opened up the scoring with a run scoring single that plated sophomore CF Anthony Muccio. Muccio was the third Iona perfumer with multiple hits on the day. After the inning was extended by an error of the bat of Rossetti, Chiaravalloti hit a long home run over the right field fence to give the home team a 4-0 lead.

Siena starter Zach Hartman settled down after allowing the home run, holding the Gaels hitless until the sixth inning. In the meantime, the Saints got to Iona starter RHP Thomas Kriss with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to close the gap to 4-3.

In the sixth inning for the Gaels beck led off with a double into the gap. Rossetti took the next pitch over the right field fence to put Iona ahead 6-3. Iona scored twice more in the seventh on Chiaravallotti's bases loaded double over the head of the Saints' right fielder.

Siena chipped away with two runs in the eighth inning. Loading the bases with one out, Tom Kriss was relieved after 113 pitches and seven innings pitched. The Saints scored their first run on a fielder's choice and their second on a seeing-eye single through the right side. Junior LHP Colin Lyall came on with the bases still loaded and recorded a strikeout and induced a comebacker to get out of the jam.

Siena sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the ninth and scratched across three runs to knot the score at 8-8 heading into Iona's final at bat.

After junior 3B Chris Burke was retired to start the bottom of the inning, Beck nearly ended the game with a long double off the base of the fence to start the Gaels' rally. Sophomore PH Chris Sand found the right spot for his first hit of the season, an infield single that put runners on first and third with one out. Chiaravalloti took the first two pitches outside of the zone and then was intentionally walked to load the bases for Matt Kriss. Kriss got enough on the sinking line drive to left field to score sophomore PR Kyle Charron from third base and end the game with a 9-8 victory.

Senior LHP Brian Callahan (2-1) earned the win after retiring the final batter in the ninth inning for the Gaels.

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
Siena............... 000 210 023 -  8 11  1
Iona College........ 400 002 201 -  9 12  0