NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to LIU Brooklyn in non-conference action at City Park. After scoring all of their runs in the first two innings, the Gaels (6-16) were held scoreless over the next seven in the defeat.

The Blackbirds (15-11-1) took an early 2-0 lead in their first at bat scoring on an RBI double by John Ziznewski. The senior shortstop scored two batters later on a wild pitch.

The Gaels posted three runs in their half of the first frame. With the bases loaded, sophomore DH Travis Mistretta drew a four pitch walk. Two batters later, rookie RF Nick Hogan was nicked in the helmet with an 0-2 curve ball to earn the second RBI of the frame. Senior 3B Chris Sand followed with a base hit on the next pitch and Iona led 3-2 after the first inning.

Iona's fourth run came in the second. Senior CF Joe Torres smacked the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a leadoff double. After stealing third, he scored on an RBI ground out by junior LF Jimmy Guiliano.

LIU Brooklyn evened the score with two runs in the third. Three runs in the fourth inning proved to be the difference and the final tallies for both teams in the game.

Guiliano was 2-for-5 with an RBI in his second straight multi-hit effort. Sand also collected two hits and RBI in the loss. The Gaels used seven pitchers in the non-conference midweek tilt. Junior RHP Steve Basile took the loss. Sophomores Max Bruckner, Andrew Pucillo and John Daddino tossed the final five innings and were the most effective, allowing just a hit and a walk with five strikeouts between them.

Blackbird 3B Bobby Weir had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Zisnewski scored twice to lead the visiting team. LIU used six pitchers. Reliever Chance Fuglistahler earned the win while Dustin Carlson picked up the save.

The Gaels complete a five-game home stand with a three-game MAAC series with Quinnipiac at City Park this weekend. Please note that start times for both Saturday and Sunday has changed to 1:00 pm.