After a promising 17 win season last year and a preseason rank of fourth in the MAAC, Iona baseball kicked off their season with a series in Virginia against Longwood on Feb. 17 and Feb. 18.

The first game started off well for the Gaels, with an RBI single by junior Sean Menickella who drove home senior Michael Chiaravalloti with the game’s first run in the top of the second inning.

However, Longwood was able to respond to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.

The Lancers took a three-run lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after a throwing error by junior Matt Kriss allowed for the inning to get extended.

Iona got a run back in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Chiaravalloti to drive home senior James Beck, who was named the MAAC pre-season Field Player of the Year.

Yet Longwood got two-run innings in both the sixth and eighth innings to win 8-2.

The second game of the season saw the Gaels and the Lancers play in an exciting game. Iona held the lead twice during this game, thanks in part to good performances from sophomores Joe Smith and Bobby Vitulano.

Yet when the game went to the bottom of the ninth inning, the Gaels found themselves on the losing side of this contest.

Longwood’s sophomore Alex Owens| hit a walk-off, two-out RBI double in the ninth inning to give the Lancers the win.

The nightcap saw a completely different game from the Gaels. Iona jumped out of the gates with a six-run first that saw Vitulano drive home two runs on a single.

The second inning saw Beck hit a two-run homer, the first big fly of the year by the Gaels.

Beck also had a two-run double in the sixth inning to finish the game with five RBI’s.

Freshman John Nargoski was able to secure the 10-4 win for the Gaels with four innings of two-hit ball.

Iona will play their next games from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26 when they play Michigan in a four game set in Port St. Lucie, FL.

The Gaels first home game will be against Fairfield at Salesian Field on March 24.