WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY– The Iona College baseball team dropped the finale of its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series against Manhattan at Dutchess Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 7-4. Seven players had at-least one hit in the loss.

GAME SUMMARY

The Jaspers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Manhattan had five hits and capitalized on a Gael fielding error. Alex Cerda had a big two-run double to right center to score a pair which acted as the rally's apex.
 
Iona got three runs in the top of the second inning. Rookie third basemen Jake Field led the inning off with a triple and was brought home by a single from senior Fran Kinsey. Joe DeMaio scored Kinsey with a single through the left side for a second tally. Iona's last run of the frame was scored by sophomore Michael Gorman, who had reached base on an error, via a single by freshman Daniel Palermo.
 
Manhattan got one run back in the bottom of the second on a Shawn Blake solo home run. It added another in the home half of the fourth with David Moffett driving in Sam Franco.
 
Iona left a pair of base runners on base in the fifth through eighth innings. Its offense threatened in the ninth inning in an attempt to earn a victory in the series. Junior Stephen Furman and Kinsey reached base on free passes to begin the inning. Freshman Will Jennings singled to center field scoring Furman. Forman then grounded into a double play putting Iona one-out away from defeat. DeMaio walked putting runners on the corners and brining the tying run to the plate. Manhattan was forced to make a pitching change and new hurler Teddy Sabato got Palermo to strikeout to conclude the contest.
 
Palermo had a team-best two hits in his first time in the lead-off spot. He, Kinsey and DeMaio had runs batted in. Field, Furman, Kinsey and Gorman all crossed the plate once. Iona left six batters on base.
 
Freshman Paul Sullivan began the game for Iona and went the first two innings. He surrendered six runs, four earned, on six hits and two walks. Rookie Drew Helmstetter was his immediate relief and he went 1.2 innings allowing one earned run against eight batters. Iona's final three pitchers, James Sharkey, Chris Dodrill and Antonio Velardi tossed a shutout final 4.1 innings while striking out five.
 
Manhattan's starter Ryan Takacs tossed the first five innings and allowed three total runs, one earned. Joe DiTorrice went three innings and faced the minimum amount of batters. Nick Massa began the ninth before having to be replaced by Sabato.
 
Blake had three hits to lead Manhattan and all players in the game. He reached base in all five plate appearances.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Iona tied its MAAC-best with 32 team at-bats. The also reached that milestone in the first game against the Jaspers (Apr. 6). The Maroon & Gold's four runs is tied for a game-high in conference play, which it also collected in game one against the Fairfield Stags (Mar. 23).
• The Gaels as a team have had at least one double in four straight games. Kinsey has a team-leading eight two-baggers and senior Niko Switalla and Field both have six.
• The Maroon & Gold are on a six game losing streak. They have not scored the first run in a game since the 5-0 win against Seton Hall on Mar. 29.

UP NEXT

Iona's next game is a non-conference tilt against Stony Brook on Long Island on Tuesday, Apr. 9. The next MAAC series is at home against the Rider Broncs beginning on Saturday, Apr. 13 at City Park in New Rochelle, NY. Follow the action via live stats.

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