LOUDONVILLE, NY - The Iona College baseball team dropped a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader to Siena at Siena Field Saturday. The Saints handed the Gaels a heartbreaking 3-2 walk off defeat in the opener before manufacturing their two scores in the 2-0 nightcap.

Iona led from its opening at bat until the final Siena plate appearance when 1B Vincent Citro's two-run double found a hole between the right and centerfielder and ended the contest. Senior CF Joe Torres led of the contest with a single up the middle. With two out and after stealing second base, Torres scored on a base hit by sophomore 1B Christian Choman that was nearly corralled in the outfield by the Saints' second baseman.

Iona added an unearned run in the fourth to lead 2-0. Freshman catcher Chris Russo reached on an error and scored two batters later on senior 2B Bobby Vitulano's RBI single to centerfield.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, CF John Rooney led off with a walk and was followed by a base hit through the left side by DH Brian Fay. CF Dan Swain plated Rooney from second and reached on an error and represented the game-winning run on first. Senior RHP Kenny Dietrich was relieved by sophomore RHP John Daddino after eight-plus strong innings. The Iona closer struck out the next two batters and worked a 1-2 count to Citro before the Saints' leadoff hitter found the right spot to beat the Gaels in a heartbreaker.

Dietrich pitched eight innings, was responsible for all three ninth inning runs which were all unearned. He struck out five batters and scattered eight hits in arguably his most impressive outing in Maroon & Gold.

Vitulano had two hits for the Gaels while Torres reached base three times with a hit, a walk and a hit by pitch.

Siena LHP Matt Gage earned the complete game win. He allowed six hits, three walks and hit two batters but struck out 10 Gaels in the victory.

In the night cap, Siena used small ball account for both runs, one each in the fourth and fifth innings off Iona starter, RHP Mariano Rivera. The leadoff batter reached in each frame, was sacrificed to second base and with two out they scored on soft singles.

Sophomore SS Vinny DeMaria was 2-for-4 in the contest. Torres reached twice with a hit and a walk. Rivera took the loss, scattering seven hits while walking two and striking out one.

Siena RHP Ed Lewicki earned the win with five strikeouts in four innings. RHP Neil Fryer stranded the tying run on second base in the ninth for his fourth save.

The two teams complete the three-game series tomorrow at Siena Field at noon.