April 25, 2007
Box Score
New Rochelle, NY - Iona scored three first-inning runs on their way to a 4-3 win in non-conference action earlier today at Salesian Field. Once again Wagner was plagued by the unearned run, yielding two in the first frame that ultimately proved to be the difference.
With the loss, the Green & White falls to 8-26 while the Gaels improve to 10-25. Wagner outhit Iona 10-7 and had three walks to zero for the Gaels but stranded eight runners compared to three for the home team.
Iona scored three runs on three hits and an error in the first to take the early 3-0 lead.
In the third inning, senior Joseph DiGeronimo (Hawthorne, NJ / Hawthorne) became just the fourth player in Seahawk history to record 200 hits when he laced his NEC-best fifth triple to right-center with two outs. He is now just one behind former teammates Nick Papa and Chris Dick for second on the all-time Seahawk-list. Following a walk to sophomore Peter Delleani (Manalapan, NJ / CBA), DiGeronimo scored when freshman Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) singled through the left side to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Seahawks would get another run back in the fourth inning. Sophomore Mike Maffucci (Nutley, NJ / Nutley) ripped a single to left field with one out. Freshman Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) moved pinch runner senior Pat Rogers (Middletown, NJ / Brookdale CC) to second on a single through the left side. Rogers then advanced to third on a force play before scoring on a throwing error by the catcher when sophomore Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) stole second.
Iona answered the Seahawks with a run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 4-2.
Wagner would mount a rally in the ninth as Rogers and McDonnell singled to lead of the inning. A ground out advanced the pair to second and third. Freshman Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Rogers and move McDonnell to third. However the tying run would be stranded 90 feet from home as Shawn Walsh picked up his fourth save of the year.
Freshman Buddy Cipoletti (West Islip, NY / St. John The Baptist) (1-2) was the tough-luck loser giving up just one earned run over 3.0 innings. He combined with fellow freshman Tom Queno (Wethersfield, CT / Wethersfield) and Bobby Tretola (Union, NJ / Roselle Catholic) to limit Iona to just two earned runs on seven hits and no walks on just 104 pitches.
John Kassebaum gave up two runs over 7.0 innings to improve to 1-0.
McDonnell and senior Ed Sudol (Wallington, NJ / Wallington) each had two hits while Rogers went 1-2 with two runs to pace the Seahawk-offense.
Wagner now heads home when they host Fairleigh Dickinson in the first of four games on Friday at 2 pm.
