OLD WESTBURY, NY – Seven runs in the sixth, all coming with two outs, propelled the Iona College baseball team to a 9-1 victory earlier this afternoon on the campus of NYIT in non-conference action.

After falling behind 1-0 in the previous half inning, the Gaels (7-10) needed just five hits to plate seven runs in the top of the sixth inning. Fran Kinsey and Niko Switalla each singled among the first three at-bats before Lou Matarazzo walked to load the bases.

Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning, back-to-back walks to Joseph Lovecchio and Joe DeMaio gave the Maroon & Gold the lead. Tyler Bruno extended the lead to 4-1 with a two RBI single before Brian Picone singled in a run. Kinsey capped off the inning he led off with a double to right field to plate Bruno and Picone.

In the bottom of the seventh, Andrew Pucillo produced a double play to end the inning and keep the Bears (2-17-1) with one run on the board. Iona added another pair of runs in the eighth as Kinsey singled in both runs with two outs after Alex Beckett and DeMaio led off the inning with a walk and double, respectively.

The Iona pitching staff held NYIT to just four hits on the day, including one in the final five innings of play. The Bears scored their lone run on the day in the bottom of the fifth on a groundout after a hit by pitch, a walk and a sacrifice bunt.

Mario Ferraioli was credited with the win after pitching the 1.2 inning throughout the fifth and sixth innings, striking out one. Kyle Ackley needed just one pitch to record an out in the sixth before Pucillo and Andrew Camiolo each registered scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Jared Finkel closed out the ninth to finish off the day started by Stephen Hansen. Hansen struck out one over four innings of shutout work.

Kinsey led the offense with three of the team's 10 hits on the afternoon to go along with four RBI and a run scored. DeMaio tallied two runs with a hit, a RBI and a walk while Tyler Bruno picked up two RBI and a run. Switalla notched a 2-for-4 game with a run.

The Gaels aim to play their first game at home this Saturday since Wednesday, March 8 by hosting Rider for a MAAC doubleheader, part of the three-game weekend series. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for noon at City Park.