NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College baseball team created 11 walks to go along with 10 hits in a 13-4 victory at City Park this afternoon against non-conference foe NYIT. 

Matt Byrne led the effort with three walks while three others drew a pair of walks each. The Gaels (10-12) were also hit by three pitches to put runners on throughout the game. Additionally, Sean Scales tallied three hits to pick up two RBI and two runs scored. Seth Hoagland drove in five RBI that included a grand slam as part of an eight-run third inning.

The Maroon & Gold jumped ahead with two runs in the second as Scales and Alex Beckett each scored on wild pitches. NYIT (3-23-1) cut the Iona lead in half with a run in the top of the third before the Gael offense took over in the bottom half.

Iona needed just four hits in the bottom of the third to plate eight runs as the team benefitted from six walks and a hit by pitch. Tyler Bruno was credited with a RBI after walking with the bases loaded to push the lead to 3-1. Duirng the next at-bat on a 2-0 pitch, Hoagland sent a drive beyond the right field fence to clear the bases and put Iona up 8-1. Later in the inning, Scales drove in two more with a single to right center.

The two teams matched a run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh that included Hoagland's fifth RBI of the day in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Joseph Lovecchio. The Iona pitching allowed just five hits to the Bears as Stephen Hansen picked up his first collegiate victory on the mound by striking out three and facing the minimum six batters in the fourth and fifth innings.

Andrew Pucillo, Jared Finkel and Andrew Camiolo all produced two outs without a runner allowed to close out the victory.

Looking ahead, the Maroon & Gold returns to conference play this weekend by hosting MAAC rival Quinnipiac for a three-game series starting on Friday with a noon doubleheader.