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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Iona posted a 5-3 come-from-behind win over Manhattan in the series opener between the teams at City Park.
The Gaels overcame a two-run deficit thanks to a four-run fifth inning in improving to 19-32 and 10-12 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) while the Jaspers fall to 17-33 and 8-14 in the league.
Junior Christian Santisteban (Miami, Fla. / Gulliver Prep) and sophomore Matt Forlow (Cold Spring, N.Y. / Haldane) each notched a pair of hits to lead the way for Manhattan.
After both teams threatened over the first two innings, the Jaspers finally broke through in the top of the third. Senior Vin Teixeira (Hamden, Conn. / Hamden Hall Country Day) led off with a walk before moving to second on freshman Michael Pfenninger's (Flemington, N.J. / Hunterdon Central) one-out single. After the pair advanced to second-and-third on a ground out, sophomore Jason Patnick (Hopewell, N.J. / IMG Academy (Fla.)) was plunked to load the bases. Senior Chris Kalousdian (Fort Salonga, N.Y. / Kings Park) followed with an infield single to plate Teixeira and Pfenninger.
Iona got one run back in the bottom of the fourth in trimming the deficit to 2-1 as Jon Budesa led off with a double before taking third on a wild pitch and would come around to score on an Alex Beckett sacrifice fly.
Manhattan would immediately get that run back in the top of the fifth in jumping out to a 3-1 lead with another big two-out hit. Patnick reached base for the third time of the day with a one-out walk and would come around to score on a Santisteban RBI triple.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Gaels took what would prove to be an insurmountable 5-3 lead thanks to plating four runs while sending 10 batters to plate, before senior RHP Michael Scarinci (Nanuet, N.Y. / Pearl River) induced an inning-ending pop up to evade further damage.
The Jaspers would threaten over the next three innings before posting one final threat in the top of the ninth. Pfenninger and freshman Brendan Bisset (New City, N.Y. / Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)) each draw one-out walks before Iona closer John Daddino induced a game-ending double play grounder in notching his fourth save of the year.
Scarinci was outstanding over 3.1 innings of relief of freshman LHP Tom Cosgrove (Staten Island, N.Y. / Monsignor Farrell), who struck out six over 4.2 innings in falling to 1-5.
Budesa and Vinny DeMaria each went 3-for-4 while combining to score three of the five Gael runs.
RHP Bill Maier (4-5) earned the win for Iona, striking out three while allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits over 8.0 innings.
Manhattan will conclude its season tomorrow with a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
