NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College baseball team scored six runs in two different innings on the way to a 15-2 victory against Saint Peter's this afternoon at City Park to open the three-game MAAC series. The three-game set will resume on Sunday at noon with a doubleheader scheduled. Additionally, the Maroon & Gold will celebrate Senior Day with a pregame ceremony.

The offense started right away in the bottom of the first for the Gaels as the team needed just four hits to manufacture six runs in the frame. Brian Picone led off with a double to right center and scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. With one out, Sean Scales also doubled before scoring on a bases loaded fielding error three batters later. Seth Hoagland and Sam Punzi each drove in a pair of runs with singles to the outfield to put the hosts ahead 6-0.

Following a scoreless second inning, Iona added a run in each of the third and fourth innings with Fran Kinsey leading off the third with a double and later scoring. In the fourth, Sean Breen drove in Tyler Bruno with a single up the middle. Bruno started the inning with a 3-1 walk.

Saint Peter's put together three straight hits in the top of the sixth with a single, a double and a triple to plate two runs and cut into the deficit at 8-2. However, the Gaels answered with six more runs in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by a three-run homerun from Scales, his first in an Iona uniform. Kinsey tallied the 15th and final run of the game for the Maroon & Gold in the seventh as Punzi notched another RBI single. 

Scales finished 4-of-6 from the plate on the day towards three RBI and two runs scored. Punzi drove in four runs on two hits while Kinsey scored four times while adding a RBI on a 2-for-3 day with a walk. Breen drew three walks to finish 1-for-1 with a RBI and three runs scored.

From the mound, Joe DeRosa logged 7.2 innings in the start with six strikeouts and no walks. Jason Goetz controlled the final four outs without allowing a hit out of the bullpen.

The two teams return to City Park tomorrow at noon with a seven-inning contest following a the nine-inning series finale. Senior Day ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 11:40 am.