BRONX, NY – The Iona College baseball program split a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 8. The Gaels fell in the opener to Fordham but earned the win in the finale against Hofstra.

GAME ONE RECAP: FORDHAM 9, IONA 2

The Rams took an early lead with two runs courtesy of Jake MacKenzie's RBI triple and Justin Bardwell's ground out. The Gaels got their first run on the scoreboard in the top of the second with senior Niko Switalla scoring on a two-out single to center by sophomore Sam Punzi.
 
The Maroon & Gold had a chance to add additional two-out hurt in the top of the third. After two quick outs, the Gaels loaded the bases but were unable to bring home the bacon.
 
The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Rams put three across the plate on five hits. Iona was able to escape with two runners left in score position before any additional damage was put forward.
 
The Gaels scrapped up a run in the sixth inning with three hits from senior Fran Kinsey, Switalla, and rookie Jake Field.
 
The last of Fordham's runs all came in the sixth inning. Jake Guercio led the inning off with a triple and soon after the bases were loaded full of Rams. MacKenzie scored a pair on a double to centerfield and Matt Tarabek plated two on a groundout to make it 9-2.
 
Junior Stephen Hansen suffers the losing decision for Iona. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits over the first five innings. He threw 84 pitches. Sophomore James Gosweiler went one inning in relief and surrendered three earned runs on three hits and one walk. Fordham scored one off junior Jason Goetz in the seventh and sophomore Michael DeSanti threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
 
Fordham's starter Alvin Melendez went the first two innings and was relieved by the winning hurler Matt Mikulski. He went six innings and allowed one run while stranding seven hits. Brian Weissert closed it with a scoreless inning.
 
Kinsey had a team-high three hits for Iona. He and Switalla scored both runs and combined to hit 5-for-10 with one RBI and one walk. Rookie Daniel Palermo collected his first two collegiate hits of his career in his first action since Feb. 17 at ETSU.
 
The heart of the Rams batting order, three-four-five, drove home eight of their nine runs. MacKenzie had four hits in four at-bats; he also drove home four, scored two, and had two stolen bases. Guerico had two hits from the nine-hole.

GAME TWO RECAP: IONA 4, Hofstra 2

The Gaels took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Palermo began the inning with a free pass and advanced to second on a single from junior Brian Picone. Kinsey reached base on a fielder's choice and everyone was safe. With the bases loaded and two out, Punzi had a clutch two-out ground-rule two-bagger into left field that scored Picone and Kinsey.
 
Both Hofstra and Iona scored once in the fifth inning. In the top half, the Kinsey and Picone connection struck again for a score. Picone led the inning off with a triple and scored on the veteran's base-knock into right field. The Pride got on the board with a groundout batted by Vito Friscia. The Gaels pitching staff limited the damage, stranding three runners on base. Rookie Paul Sullivan entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs. He was able to strand all runners with a strikeout.
 
Sophomore Chris Dodrill began the game for Iona and went the opening 4.2 innings allowing one run on three hits. He struck out five and had to work around six walks.
 
In a mirror of the fifth inning, both programs scored one run in the sixth. Iona stretched its lead to 4-1 with graduate Jon Budesa batting home sophomore Michael Gorman. Hofstra answered with Anthony D'Onofrio driving in Austin Pollack in the home half.
 
The Maroon & Gold shut it down in the final innings with stellar relief efforts from rookie Drew Helmstetter and senior Antonio Velardi. Helmstetter threw two shutout innings and Velardi earned the safe.
 
Picone, junior Stephen Furman and Gorman each had two hits. Picone and Furman each had triples. Kinsey and Gorman each had stolen bases.

UP NEXT

Iona wraps up the weekend tomorrow morning against Fordham. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. from Houlihan Park. Follow the game live via live stats.

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