POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Iona College baseball team split a doubleheader with Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at McCann Field. After the Gaels fell 14-4 in the opener, junior LHP Eddie Macaluso tossed a complete game six-hitter in a 6-1 victory over the Red Foxes.

The Maroon & Gold scored twice in its first at bat. Rookie 2B Matt Byrne drove in junior CF Joe Torres from second base on a single to right field. Torres led off the game with a double. A bases loaded walk to rookie DH Zach Brown plated Iona's second tally of the frame.

Marist answered with a run in the bottom of the first inning. They would explode for nine runs in the second and third innings to take a 10-1 advantage they would not relinquish.

Iona scored twice in the seventh. Byrne crossed on the front end of a double steal. Sophomore LF Jimmy Guiliano scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.

Senior 3B Matthew Kriss was 3-for-5 and Byrne went 2-for-4 accounting for the Iona players with multiple hits. Sophomore RHP Steve Basile took the loss.

Marist CF Matt Pagano had three hits to lead the Red Foxes in the opener. Chris Bielak earned the win.

In game two, the Gaels broke a 1-1 tie with a five-run fourth inning. Byrne drove in Torres again in the Gaels' first at bat. In the fourth, the Gaels quickly loaded the bases on a single, an error and a hit by pitch. With one out, freshman SS Vinny DeMaria drove in rookie 1B Christian Choman on a groundout. With runners on second and third and two out, junior RF Joe Smith crossed the plate on a balk. Torres then singled home junior 2B Bobby Vitulano for the inning's third run. Two batters later, rookie LF Joseph Sessa followed with a two-run single to centerfield.

Byrne was 2-for-2 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Torres was 1-for-1 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI.

Macaluso earned his first win of the season in the complete game effort. He allowed a run on five hits and has six walks while striking out five Red Foxes in the victory.

Brett Houseal took the loss. Shortstop Zach Shank had two hits.

The Gaels and Red Foxes conclude the series tomorrow at noon.