WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Iona College baseball team fell to Monmouth in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at MU Baseball Field. The Hawks took the opener 9-2 before plating the nightcap's lone run in the final inning in a 1-0 win over the Gaels.

Junior 1B Matt Byrne and senior C Carmine Palummo each had two hits in the opener to lead the Gaels. Byrne and sophomore C Joseph Lovecchio accounted for the team's runs batted in while Byrne and rookie PH Owen McMenamy scored the runs.

Junior RHP Bill Maier took the loss, tossing the first six innings of the contest. Senior RHPs Jake Kurz and Stephan Stafford came on in relief.

In the night cap, Monmouth plated the game-winning run in its final at bat as starters Joe DeRosa and Ricky Dennis engaged in a pitcher's duel through the first six innings.

DeRosa tossed 6.1 innings before the winning run crossed and lowered his MAAC leading ERA to 2.33 on the season. Against conference foes, his ERA is a stingy 1.78.

Senior SS Vinny DeMaria was 2-for-3 in the loss as Byrne and freshman 2B Sean Breen and DH Niko Switalla each had singles in the loss.

The two teams complete their three game series tomorrow afternoon.