NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College baseball team completed its 2011 campaign with a doubleheader loss to conference leading Manhattan in MAAC action at Salesian Field. A late comeback effort for the second straight game fell short in the opener as Iona dropped the 5-4 decision. The Jaspers opened up their six-run lead with late tallies in a 7-1 final in the nightcap.

The two squads matched solo runs in the opening frame. Junior 1B Michael Chiaravalloti poked a single to center field to account for the Gaels first run. 

Iona took a 2-1 advantage in the third as junior 3B Chris Burke picked up an RBI with a single of his own. Manhattan used two, two-out, two-run home runs in both the fifth and sixth inning to open up a 5-1 lead.

The Iona's final at-bat, a one-out RBI base hit by senior 2B Nick Rossetti plated Burke to start Iona's rally. After a walk to sophomore SS Matthew Kriss, his classmate, CF Anthony Muccio, found a hole and drove in Rossetti for second. With runners on first and third and two out, Manhattan reliever Scott McClennon got the final out on a ground ball to third base.

Burke and rookie RF Joe Smith had multiple hits in the loss. Burke was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Smith had two hits and a run scored.

Senior LHP Justin Wiley likely appeared for the final time in Maroon & Gold taking the hard-luck loss. Wiley tossed his sixth complete game of the season, scattering nine hits and four earned runs. He walked two batters and struck out one. Though he has one year of eligibility left, the fifth-year graduate student will look to pursue a professional baseball career next season.

In the nightcap, Manhattan drew first blood in their opening at-bat with a solo run and led 2-0 after two innings.

Iona rallied with two-out and no one on in the bottom of the second. A Kriss single was followed by senior C Chris Griffin's walk. Smith doubled to shallow right centerfield to pick up the two-out RBI.

Manhattan tacked on another run off Iona starter, rookie LHP Eddie Macaluso and led 3-1 after his fifth inning departure. Seniors RHP Sean Darsee and LHP Brian Callahan also made their final appearances at Iona in relief. Darsee was charged with three runs in two innings on just two hits, while Callahan allowed a run in his two innings of work.

Smith added three more hits for a total of five on the day. Kriss finished the year on an 11-game hitting streak while Burke posted hits in his last six games.

Game 1                            R  H  E
Manhattan........... 100 022 0 -  5  9  0
Iona College........ 101 000 2 -  4 11  1
 
Game 2                              R  H  E
Manhattan........... 110 103 010 -  7  8  0
Iona College........ 010 000 000 -  1  7  1