NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College baseball team lost a doubleheader to Canisius in its 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and home opener at City Park. The Gaels were blanked 8-0 in the opener and 7-0 in the night cap.

In the opener, Canisius scored seven of its eight runs in its first five turns at bat. Sophomore RHP Bill Maier allowed the runs but only one was earned in the loss.

Junior LF Travis Mistretta was 2-for-4, junior SS Vinny DeMaria was 1-for-3 and rookie CF Jon Budesa was 1-for-4 to account for the Gaels four hits. Canisius 3B Jesse Puscheck and CF Mike Krisch had two hits and two RBI and each while RF Brett Siddall had a hit and scored three times in the win.

In game two, junior RHP Mariano Rivera tossed 101 pitches over 4.2 innings, allowing two hits and a run and had seven strikeouts but extended his pitch count due to seven walks.

Canisius went ahead 1-0 after the first three batters following a leadoff walk and back-to-back hits. They tacked on six runs in their turn at bat in the sixth and seventh innings off Iona's bullpen.

DeMaria, Budesa, senior 1B Jimmy Giuliano and sophomore 3B Tyler Bruno each recorded hits in the loss.

The Gaels and Griffs complete the three-game series tomorrow at noon at City Park.