BROOKLYN – After trailing 4-2 following the fourth inning, LIU Brooklyn was able to plate seven unanswered runs to upend the Iona College baseball team 9-4 this afternoon at LIU Field in non-conference action.

The Maroon & Gold (4-13) trailed 2-1 entering the top of the fourth before loading the bases for Brian Picone with two outs. Niko Switalla opened the two-out rally with a single followed by a double down the left field line from Stephen Furman. Derek Becker drew a walk to fill the bases for Picone who cleared the runners with a double to push Iona ahead 4-2.

The Blackbirds (10-9) tied the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth as Gregory Vaughn Jr. scored the first tally of the inning from third base on a stolen base by Anthony Warneke. Warneke scored the tying run in the next at-bat as Luis Arias de los Santos singled to center field.

The fifth inning was the first of three straight innings that LIU Brooklyn tallied a pair of runs in each as the hosts took the lead in the sixth with Alex Briggs scoring on a fielding error that allowed Andrew Smith to reach. Smith came around to score the second run of the frame on a wild pitch with two outs.

Brock Hallum extended the margin to 8-4 in the seventh with a one out, two-run homerun down the right field line. Rob Griswold scored the final run of the afternoon in the eighth on a wild pitch after walking with one out.

Picone was one of four Gaels to notch two hits on the afternoon to go along with his three RBI while Becker added the other RBI in addition to a run scored. Patrick Ryan struck out three by starting the first four innings.

The Maroon & Gold are scheduled to host Siena this weekend for a three-game MAAC series starting on Saturday at noon. Wednesday's afternoon contest against Fordham has been postponed due to the forecasted inclement wedding.

Stay tuned to ICGaels.com and follow @ICGaels and @IonaBaseball on Twitter for all schedule updates.