BRONX, NY - The Iona College baseball team dropped a 13-8 decision to Rider in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series opener. The game was played at Fordham's Houlihan Park to accommodate the graduation of both schools this weekend.

The Broncs scored 12 of their 13 runs in the fourth through seventh innings. The Gaels could not recover from a seven-run seventh inning though they mounted a valiant comeback with seven runs of their own in their final three at bats.

Junior SS Matthew Kriss went 4-for-5 with two doubles to lead the Gaels offensively. He drove in a run and scored another in the contest. Senior C James Beck, senior 2B Eric Capowski and sophomore RF Joe Smith had two hits a piece. Senior 3B Chris Burke and freshman DH Jimmy Guiliano each drove in two runs. A seventh inning single to right field for Burke accounted for his 220th career hit, tying former Gael standout Rob Villanova. Burke got the hit in his 666th career at-bat, the exact number Villanova ended his Iona career.

Sophomore LHP Eddie Macaluso took the loss allowing eight runs over six-plus innings.  Senior Jordan Gilruth proved to be the Gaels most effective reliever, allowing just one base runner in two innings of work with three strikeouts to close out the game.

The two teams complete the three game series at Salesian Field on Sunday at noon.