FARMVILLE, VA - The Iona college baseball team split a doubleheader with Longwood, dropping the opener 6-5 and then taking an early lead for their first victory of the season in the finale 10-4.
Senior C James Beck led the Gaels on the day with six runs batted in overall, as Beck finished with five RBIs on two hits in the finale. Sophomore 2B Bobby Vitulano had three RBIs and two hits overall, with a pair of RBIs coming in the Iona victory.
In the first game of the day, both Iona (1-2) and Longwood (2-1) got tremendous pitching through three innings, before both squads scored a run and then three runs, respectively over the next two innings.
In the fourth inning, Beck sent a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score sophomore CF Joe Torres who led off the inning with a walk. The Lancer tied the game in the bottom of the inning with and RBI single by Alex Owens.
In the fifth inning, the Gaels scored three times on two hits as sophomore RF Joe Smith singled to right field to score senior 1B Michael Chiaravalloti. The Gaels took a 3-1 lead on a bases loaded groundout by Vitulano to score junior SS Matthew Kriss. Iona's final run of the inning came on sacrifice fly by Torres to score Smith.
Longwood tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the inning on four hits and then took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly.
The Gaels tied the game, 5-5, in the seventh inning on an unearned error by the pitcher to score Smith.
Longwood won the game in the bottom of the ninth on a game-winning single to right field by Owens.
Iona freshman starter John Daddino went 4.1 innings and struck out seven in his collegiate debut. Senior RHP Colin Lyall took the loss, as the reliever went 4.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Tyler Wislocki got the win for Longwood after pitching the final two innings.
In the series finale, the Gaels used an early offensive outburst to avoid dropping their first three games of the season. Iona scored six times in the first inning, followed by a pair in the second to own a 6-2 lead after three innings.
With runners on second and third, Beck scored senior 3B Chris Burke who singled on the first hit of the game for the visitors. Kriss then doubled to left field to score Chiaravalloti who also singled earlier in the inning. Leading 2-0, Smith then singled to center to score Kriss, followed by an RBI single by junior C Sean Menickella. Vitulano added two more runs for the Gaels on a two-run RBI single down the right field line.
Iona added two more runs in the second on a home run by Beck to leftfield to take a commanding 8-0 lead.
Longwood scored once in the bottom of the second and once in the fourth to cut the Iona lead at 8-2.
The Gaels added two more runs in the sixth on one hit after Longwood walked the bases loaded. Beck continued his outstanding performance with a two RBI double to centerfield.
Three Gaels took the hill in the contest as freshman LHP starter John Nargoski went four innings allowing two runs on two hits for his first collegiate victory. Zach Jordan went five innings for Longwood allowing eight runs on 10 hits for the loss.
Iona will now head south for a four-game series with The University of Michigan in Port St. Lucie, FL from February 24 -26.
