NIAGARA FALLS, NY - A four-run fourth inning and strong pitching lifted the fourth seeded Iona College baseball program to a 5-2 victory against No. 6 Rider this afternoon in an elimination at the MAAC Baseball Championship. With the win, the Gaels (23-25) advance to face No. 3 Canisius at 5:00 pm this evening in another elimination contest.

Trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Maroon & Gold used four hits and benefitted from two errors to plate four runs. With one out already on the board, Sean Scales reached on an error followed by an Alex Beckett single. Both runners moved up a base during the play due to an error in the outfield.

With runners on second and third and two outs following a strikeout, Scales tied the game at 2-2 by touching home on a wild pitch. After Tyler Bruno walked, Jon Budesa drove in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle before Brian Picone extended the margin on a two RBI double to right field.

Despite surrendering a run in each of the first two innings, Joe DeRosa settled in to pitch seven innings in the start to earn his second victory of the season and lower his ERA to 3.15. The junior was charged with one earned run while striking out three.

Meanwhile, Jared Finkel pitched two scoreless innings to earn his 10th save of the season that included a double play to end the eighth inning. The save marked the single-season program record for the Maroon & Gold. 

Stay tuned to ICGaels.com and follow us on Twitter (@ICGaels) for updates on today's 5:00 pm against Canisius.