May 15, 2003
Box Score
New Rochelle, NY - The Iona College baseball team took a 3-2 decision over Marist College in 10 innings Thursday at J.B. Buono Field. The Gaels loaded the bases with no outs in the tenth and scored the winning run on an infield error. Iona improved to 21-22 overall this season, 15-9 against MAAC competition. Marist fell to 29-18-1, 17-8 in league play.
The Gaels got on the board first with a run in the second inning off Red Foxes starter Kevin Ool. Senior Rob Michitch (Glendale, NY) drove a two-out double down the rightfield line, scoring junior Jason Motte (Walden, NY), who led off the inning with a single to center.
Ool and Iona starter Marty Hand (Newburgh, NY) were locked in a pitcher's duel through the first seven innings as the Gaels clung to the 1-0 lead. Hand didn't allow any Marist player to reach second base until the seventh, when the Red Foxes had runners on first and second with one out. But Hand got a double-play grounder to escape unharmed, as the score remained 1-0.
The Red Foxes came back in the eighth against Hand, scoring two runs - on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball - to take a 2-1 lead. Senior Ryan Sullivan (Bronx, NY) was summoned from the bullpen to get the final out of the inning.
Iona tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom half of the frame on a run-scoring single by Rob Fortner (Mahopac, NY). It was Fortner's team-leading 39th RBI of the year.
The score remained tied into the tenth, as Sullivan threw two hitless innings. The Gaels led off the tenth with a single by Mark Zettl (White Plains, NY), who advanced to second on a throwing error. After Fortner was intentionally walked, freshman Dan Potocki (Yonkers, NY) laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Marist reliever Chris Homer was late with his throw to third, loading the bases.
The Red Foxes drew the infield in for a play at the plate, but Motte's slow-rolling grounder was misplayed by Marist's Josh Pardo as Zettl crossed with the winning run.
Sullivan got credit for the win, improving his record to 6-2, while Homer (2-2) was charged with the loss. Zettl led the Gaels lineup with a 3-for-5 effort.
The teams are scheduled to wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Friday beginning at noon. With rain in the forecast, Sunday has been designated as the make-up date - if necessary.
