NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Fairfield in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at City Park. The Gaels fell 2-1 in the opener and 7-1 in the night cap.
Six different Gaels recorded hits in the game one defeat. Senior LF Travis Mistretta drove in teammate Fran Kinsey in the bottom of the first inning for Iona’s lone run. The Stags scored once each in their first two at bats.
Senior C Carmine Palummo tripled to lead off the second inning but was erased at the plate on a fielder’s choice.
The Gaels had a shot to tie in their final at bat, stranding the bases loaded. With one out, sophomore CF Jon Budesa was called out at the plate on a controversial strike three play. The game ended on a close play at second base on choice.
Sophomore RHP Joe DeRosa went the distance for the Gaels, allowing four hits and two walks with two strike outs over 94 pitches.
In the night cap, the Stags struck early with two in the first and a third in the second. They took a 6-0 lead with three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings. After Iona got on the board in its half of the sixth, Fairfield answered with their final run in the top of the seventh.
Mistretta and Kinsey had two hits apiece for the Gaels with the Iona senior driving in Iona’s run with a two-out single in the sixth inning.
Sophomore RHP Patrick Ryan took the loss, allowing five earned runs and seven hits over six innings and 102 pitches. Junior LHP Andrew Camiolo pitched the seventh with senior RHP Stephan Stafford facing the minimum with one strikeout in the eighth and ninth innings.
The Gaels hit the road for four games starting with a non-conference tilt at Fordham Tuesday (Apr. 12). The Maroon & Gold takes on Quinnipiac next weekend beginning with a doubleheader Saturday (Apr. 16) and the series finale Sunday (Apr. 17) in Hamden, CT.