Through his first eight seasons at Iona, head coach Pat Carey has only won his opening game once, in 2009 against North Carolina Central.

After losing their first game of the season over the last four seasons, Iona baseball started off their season with a 6-5 win in a non-conference game at Delaware State.

During the first eight innings of the contest, the Gaels and Hornets exchanged three runs apiece. Senior outfielder Joe Torres scored two of the Gaels’ runs through the first eight frames, while sophomore starting pitcher Mariano Rivera Jr. pitched 6 2/3 innings.

In the top of the ninth, the Gaels added three more runs, thanks in part to an RBI double from sophomore first baseman Christian Choman, his third run driven in on the afternoon.

Iona almost surrendered this lead during the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, sophomore Max Bruckner allowed two runs to score. With the bases loaded, Bruckner secured the win by educing a fly out to Torres.

The Gaels returned to the diamond the following day to face Bucknell before playing a rematch against the Hornets.

Unlike their game the day before, there was no late game drama, for the Gaels were outhit early by Bucknell. The Bison tallied five runs in the first two innings, before adding four more runs in the eighth to win 9-5.

While only trailing by one run (5-4) heading into the eighth inning, Iona gave up four runs in the top of the inning.

Torres had two hits, two RBI and a stolen base in the losing effort. Sophomore second baseman Matt Byrne added an RBI triple for the Gaels.

In the nightcap, the Gaels again played Delaware State. During his collegiate debut, freshman Bill Maier pitched seven innings, surrendering five runs, though only two were earned.

During the top of the eighth, the Gaels took a 6-5 lead after Choman and sophomore pinch hitter Travis Mistretta added RBI singles.

But the Gaels surrendered a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, which resulted in the Hornets emerging as 8-7 victors.

Iona faced Central Connecticut on March 7 and lost 2-1 in 11 innings.

The Gaels matched up in a close contest against the Blue Devils. Both sides scored one run apiece through the first 10 innings of the contest.

In the top of the 11th, the visitors took a 2-1 lead over the Gaels after scoring on a two-out single. Central Connecticut won in the bottom of the inning after recording a double play with the tying run on second base.

The Maroon & Gold lost at Stony Brook 4-0 on March 10. Iona was held to just three hits.

Despite only recording one victory through the first five contests of the season, the Gaels have been competitive in each.

“Our pitching staff has been throwing very well. We [the batters] need to focus on hitting and scoring runs for our pitchers,” Torres said. “We are going to win a lot of games as long as we hit.”

Iona was scheduled to play St. John’s on March 11 and Fordham on March 12; the results were not available at press time.

The Gaels will return to the diamond to play a three game set at William and Mary starting on March 14.

On March 22, Iona will start conference play against Fairfield at City Park in New Rochelle.