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Niagara Falls, NY - Bill Maier yielded just one run on seven hits in a complete game performance in leading Iona to a 5-1 win over Manhattan in the second game of the 2017 MAAC Baseball Championship at Sal Maglie Field.
In defeat, junior LHP Tom Cosgrove tied 2006 MAAC Pitcher of the Year Chris Cody's single-season school record of 105 strikeouts.
The Jaspers fall to 18-34 and will next face No. 6 Rider in an elimination game at 7:30 pm.
Iona took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on Brian Picone sacrifice fly.
Manhattan appeared poised to tie the game up in the top of the fifth as junior Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) smoked a one-out triple. Unfortunately, sophomore Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep) hit a liner that the first baseman was able to corral and quickly get the second out at the bag before firing to home for the third out of the frame.
Matt Byrne then extended the lead out to 2-0 with a solo home run to left field in the bottom part of the frame.
In the top of the sixth, junior Brendan Bisset (New City, NY / Don Bosco Prep (NJ)) drew a one-out walk in reaching base safely for the 16th-straight game before moving to second on a two-out wild pitch. Unfortunately, Maier was able to strike out the next hitter in keeping the Jaspers at bay.
Iona then extended its lead out to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth with a Lou Matarazzo RBI single.
Manhattan finally got on the board in the top of the seventh with a single run. Junior Matt Forlow (Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) led off with a double to left field before moving to third on a Jason Patnick (Sr., Hopewell, NJ / Hopewell Valley) ground out. Junior Brandon Valls (Miami, FL / Dean CC) then plated Forlow with a RBI ground out in trimming the deficit to 3-1.
In the bottom part of the frame, the Gaels pushed their advantage to 5-1 with a pair of runs.
Down but not out, the Jaspers loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth only to be denied when Maier left them full with his fifth strikeout of the game.
Forlow was 2-for-4 with a double and a run while Pfenninger also went 2-for-4 with a triple to pace Manhattan's seven-hit attack.
Byrne went 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs and a walk to highlight the Gaels' six-hit performance.
Cosgrove was the tough-luck losing pitcher, yielding five runs on six hits with six strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
