NEW ROCHELLE, NY - A four-run fifth inning guided the Iona baseball program to a 4-1 victory against rival Manhattan this afternoon at City Park. In the process, the Gaels (14-16, 7-5 MAAC) claimed the three-game weekend series, 2-1.

Trailing 1-0 after a first inning run for the Jaspers (10-27, 5-7 MAAC), the Maroon & Gold went into the fifth with just one hit on the board. However, Iona managed to take advantage of six walks and three errors from Manhattan in the inning.

With one out in the frame, Seth Hoagland drew the first walk of the inning followed by an error allowing Tyler Bruno to reach. With Manhattan looking to turn a double play on a ground ball from Fran Kinsey, the relay throw to first base missed the target and allowed Hoagland to scored and tie the game, putitng Kinsey on at second.

Back-to-back walks to Matt Bryne and and Sean Breen loaded the bases for Niko Switalla. Similar to the two batters prior, Switalla drew a walk to drive in Kinsey with the go ahead run. Alex Beckett and Sean Scales tallied the fourth and fifth walks of the inning to push the Iona advantage to 4-1 despite not producing a hit in the frame.

Despite nine hits allowed, starter Patrick Ryan kept the Jaspers from crossing the plate thanks in large part to four double plays. Three of the double plays came on the ground, however, Hoagland produced one of the four by throwing out Jason Patnick at home plate after a fly ball to end the fourth.

Ryan pitched seven innings to earn his fourth victory of the season on just 73 pitches. Jared Finkel allowed just one base runner throughout the eighth and ninth innings to pick up his sixth save of the year. 

Manhattan controlled a 9-1 advantage in the hit column, however, Iona earned the victory by producing nine walks on the afternoon while also taking advantage of four Jasper errors. 

The Maroon & Gold return to City Park on Wednesday to host Albany for a 3:00 pm non-conference tilt.