NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College baseball team earned a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series win, splitting with Fairfield today at Salesian Field. The Gaels (9-13, 2-1 MAAC) dropped the opener to the Stags (8-14, 1-2 MAAC) 9-3 before prevailing in the night cap, 8-5.

The Maroon & Gold could not overcome a six-run second inning by Fairfield in the opener in the 9-3 loss. Iona scored its first run in the third on a bases loaded walk to junior SS Matthew Kriss. After Fairfield got the run back in the fourth, the Gaels scored twice in the bottom of the frame on a two run double by senior 3B Chris Burke.

The Stags put the game away with a run in the sixth and seventh innings.

Burke, Kriss and senior 1B Michael Chiaravalloti had two hits apiece in the loss. Senior LHP Colin Lyall (0-3) took the loss. He allowed eight runs (five earned) on eight hits before being relieved by rookie RHP John Daddino with two out in the sixth.

SS Larry Cornelia, RF Tyler Wosleger and 3B Dean Sadik each had two hits for the Stags. 1B Anthony Hajjar drove in three runs on a bases clearing triple in the second inning to lead his squad. RHP Scott Warwick (2-1) earned the win tossing 6.0 innings while scattering seven hits, allowing three runs and striking out six batters.

The Gaels erased a 3-0 first inning deficit in the night cap, scoring eight times before Fairfield got on the board with two more in their final at bat.

Rookie LHP John Nargoski surrendered the three runs before settling down with two straight zeros in the second and third innings.

The Gaels chipped away with a run in the second and third innings before taking the lead for good in the fourth. Back-to-back doubles by senior C James Beck and Lyall led to Iona's first run. A run scoring single by Beck made the score 3-2 in the third. Rookie DH Jimmy Guiliano plated the tying run in the fourth on an RBI groundout. A Beck infield hit sent home the go ahead run in the frame.

Guiliano earned his second RBI of the game in the fifth inning to make the score 5-3, reaching on a fielder's choice.

The Gaels maintained the two run cushion until the bottom of the eighth inning when Lyall smoked his second home run of the season, a line drive over the right field fence that plated three key insurance runs.

After relieving Nargoski in the fourth inning, junior RHP Matt Marley tossed five strong scoreless innings. HE allowed two hits and struck out two batters to earn his first win of the season. Junior RHP Thomas Kriss pitched the ninth, allowing two runs before his second strikeout of the inning ended the contest.

Beck went 4-for-5 with two RBI, Lyall - who came on to play left field in the night cap - had two hits and four RBI. He was joined in the multiple-hit club by Burke and sophomore OFs Joe Torres and Joe Smith with two each.

Cornelia was 4-for-5 and Hajjar was 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead the visitors. RHP Mark Bordonaro (1-2) took the loss after pitching the first four innings of the contest. 

The Gaels embark on a 10-game road trip before returning to Salesian Field on Apr. 14 vs. Niagara. Iona takes on non-conference opponents Rhode Island (Mar. 27) and Sacred Heart (Mar. 28) before resuming MAAC play at Manhattan next weekend (Mar. 31-Apr. 1).