FARMVILLE, VA- The Iona College baseball team dropped an 8-2 decision at Longwood to open up its 2012 campaign. A three-run fourth inning for the Lancers proved to be the difference in the loss for the Gaels.

Iona got on the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by junior C Sean Menickella. A leadoff double by senior 1B Mike Chiaravalloti led the team's run. 

Longwood knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame on a two-out single by 1B Zach Mihalko. A one-out single in the fourth produced the go-ahead run for the Lancers. The home team added two more tallies with two-outs after an Iona error to take a 4-1 advantage.

In the top of the fifth, senior 3B Chris Burke was hit by a pitch with one out and stole his second base of the contest. Chiaravalloti singled his teammate home to put the score at 4-2.

That would be the final run of the game for the Gaels as Longwood added two runs each in the bottom of the sixth and eighth innings for the 8-2 victory.

Chiaravalloti was the offensive star for Iona with a 3-for-5 effort with two doubles, scoring a run and driving in another. Menickella reached base three times in four plate appearances with two hits and a hit-by-pitch. Burke was also on base three times, going 1-for-3 and was hit twice. Senior DH James Beck and rookie LF Jimmy Guiliano also had hits in the contest.

Sophomore LHP Eddie Macaluso took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) and seven hits with three strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Longwood OF Robby Newman was 3-for-3 with a walk and four runs scored for the victors. Kyler Morgan earned the win in a five-inning effort.

The two teams are back in action tomorrow at noon in a doubleheader that will complete the three-game series. The second game of the day was rescheduled from Sunday afternoon due to a poor weather forecast.