NEW ROCHELLE, NY - A three-run top of the ninth and solid pitching throughout led the Iona College baseball team to a season-opening 6-5 win at Delaware State in non-conference action on the road.

Senior CF Joe Torres went 3-for-4 with three runs scored while junior LF Jimmy Guiliano and sophomore 1B Christian Choman had two hits apiece and combined for five RBI in the win.

The Gaels got on the board in their first turn at bat with Torres leading off the ball game with a double on the second pitch he saw. Sophomore 2B Matt Byrne drew a walk and both runners were moved into scoring position on a Guiliano ground out. Choman drove in Torres with an RBI ground out to give the Gaels a 1-0 lead.

Delaware State scored twice in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead but the advantage was short lived. In the top of the third, Torres scored again on an infield single by Guiliano to knot the score at 2-2.

The Gaels took a 3-2 lead on Choman's RBI base hit to centerfield allowing Byrne to score from second base.

The Hornets drew even in the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners on first and third an one out, Delaware State RF Ron Farley scored on a balk. Sophomore RHP Mariano Rivera induced a 3-2 pop out for the second out and sophomore RHP Max Bruckner got a ground out to end the threat.

Iona put two runners on with one out in the top of the night after Torres walked and Byrne singled to center to put his teammate on third base. Guiliano plated the go ahead run with a sacrifice fly. Choman added needed insurance with a two-out RBI double to left center field. Sophomore DH Zach Brown plated the Maroon & Gold's sixth run with a base hit to score Choman from second base.

The Gaels escaped a wild bottom of the ninth as two runs scored and eight batters came to the plate. A leadoff walk was followed by a controversial throwing error by Bruckner to put two on with no out. Bruckner recorded outs on the next two batters, on a fielder's choice and a fly ball. Second baseman Cameron Onderko singled home the innings first run and was followed by C Mike Alexander's reach on error that send home the second. With two out, the Hornets loaded the bases with on a hit batter. The Gaels got the final out on a long fly ball to center field that was calmly tracked town by Torres to seal the win.

Rivera tossed 6.2 strong innings, scattering six hits while allowing three runs with three strikeouts and two walks. Brucker picked up the win in relief pitching the final 2.1 frames while allowing two unearned runs and just the one ninth inning hit.

The Gaels continue action with a doubleheader at Wesley College in Delaware tomorrow when they face Bucknell at 10:30 am and host Delaware State at 2:30 pm. Red shirt sophomore LHP John Nargoski will start the first game while freshman RHP Bill Maier gets the ball in the nightcap.