NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Mario Ferraioli and Schuyler Bates combined to shutout Marist 2-0 in the second game to help the Iona College baseball team to a split of today's doubleheader at City Park after the visitors earned a 4-1 victory in the opener.

GAME ONE
The Maroon & Gold (9-26, 4-9 MAAC) claimed the initial advantage in game one as Lou Matarazzo notched a RBI double to score Sean Scales after the shortstop walked in the previous at-bat. Starting pitcher was able to hold the Red Foxes (17-15, 7-4 MAAC) scoreless throughout the first five innings, including the fifth inning by stranding a runner at third base with a ground out to end the frame.

Marist was able to break through in the sixth with three runs on just two hits and the benefit of an infield error. After the first two batters were retired, Greg Kocinski doubled to start the rally followed by a Tyler Kapuscinski single to put runners on the corners. Kocinski was able to tie the game as Frankie Gregoire reached on a close play at first. With the bases loaded two batters later, Chriz Tracz drew a 3-1 walk to give Marist the lead. Gregoire scored the third run of the inning later on with a wild pitch at the plate.

The Red Foxes added one more tally in the seventh for its pitching staff as Kapuscinski notched a RBI single. Starting pitcher Tony Romanelli completed the seventh inning towards his start behind nine strikeouts for his third victory. Meanwhile, Skyler Pichardo earned his first save of the season by keeping the Gaels hitless in the final two innings with one strikeout.

GAME TWO
A run in each of the first and second inning proved to be the difference for the Gaels in the second game of the doubleheader.

Similar to game one, Iona jumped out in the first inning with one run as Brian Picone led off with a single and later scored the game's opening run. In the second, the Maroon & Gold added another run with Picone earning the RBI this time as Seth Hoagland scored.

The run support was enough for the combination of Ferraioli and Bates as the sophomore started the first 5.1 innings with just two hits allowed and three strikeouts before handing the ball off to the senior. Bates closed out the sixth and stranded two runners in the process with a ground ball and a fly out. In the ninth, the right hander once again danced out of trouble and left runners at second and third with a fly out to end the game.

Ferraioli moved to 2-0 on the season while Bates earned his first save of the year. 

The two programs conclude the three-game series tomorrow afternoon with a 1 pm start time at City Park.