After a disappointing start to last season, the Iona baseball team looked to get their season off to a strong start in Spartanburg, S.C. against the Wofford Terriers.

In their first game of the season, the Gaels found themselves down 5-0 when they were able to get their first run of the season off an RBI double from Sophomore Anthony Muccio in the top of the fifth inning.

Despite a two run seventh inning that was helped largely from an RBI single from freshman Joe Torres, the Gaels were unable to complete a comeback and fell 7-3 in their season opener.

In the nightcap of the doubleheader, the Gaels were unable to secure a split as they fell 15-7.

Early on, Iona did hold a 3-0 lead thanks in large part to the play of Torres and Muccio. However, a seven run second inning plus a three run third inning put the game out of reach for the Gaels.

Despite the loss, Torres put together a great game in the second game of his career, going five for six at the plate with two RBI’s and a run scored.

In the final game of the weekend for Iona, the Gaels faced USC Upstate, but fell once again, this time by a 9-5 score.

The Gaels were unable to overcome a second inning that saw the Spartans have a seven run inning that proved to be all of the scoring that was necessary in the win.

Iona was able to hit their first homerun of the season when Nick Rossetti was able to power a grand slam over the left field wall to cut the Spartans lead in half. Regardless, the homer was not enough for Iona to overcome their deficit.

Due in large part to the terrible winter weather that has plagued the Northeast over the last several months, Iona and local rival Fordham were forced to move their series to Asheboro, N.C.

In the first game of a doubleheader, Iona and Fordham played a closely contested game that went 11 innings. Unfortunately for Iona, a two-run homerun by Fordham proved enough for the Rams to defeat the Gaels 3-1.

Iona got their only run in the bottom of the seventh inning via an RBI single from sophomore Matthew Kriss.

During the nightcap of the doubleheader, Iona fell to 0-5 in the young season dropping the game by the score of 9-2.

Once again, a weak start doomed the Gaels due in large part to the surrendering of five runs in the first two innings.

Iona was able to register their two runs on a double play and on a wild pitch.

However, despite the weak start, Torres was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week for his strong performance in N.C.

Altogether, Torres had eight hits in 15 at-bats compiling a .533 batting average over the first three games of his collegiate career.

Beside Torres, junior James Beck has also gotten off to a good start posting a .421 batting average with a homerun and two RBIs.

Iona will now look ahead to this upcoming weekend in  D.C. to register their first win of the season against George Washington University, who currently have a record of 2-4.