TAMPA, FLA. - The Lions dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker and then lost 8-0 to the Black Knights in the final two games of a three-game series. Army scored all of its runs in the first inning of both games to hand Columbia its sixth and seventh loss of the season.

Army started the game scoring one run in the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Black Knights pushed one run across with three hits off of first-year starter Joe Scarlatta and that proved to be all they needed.

The Lions were able to get a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Henry Perkins drew a walk with one out. A long single to right field by senior Michael DeFazio moved Perkins to third and with two outs, sophomore Mike Malfetone hit a hard line drive back to the pitcher to end the inning.

Scarlatta (0-2) took the loss for Columbia pitching 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits, one run and one walk while striking out two batters. Recording one hit along with DeFazio were junior Andrew Ward and sophomore Dan Neczypor, both of whom had singles.

Army started out hot again in the second game, tagging starter Alex Lewis for eight runs in the first inning. The Black Knights belted eight hits and took advantage of two Lion errors to put the eight runners across.

The Lions weren't able to get any runners in scoring position before the game was called due to darkness in the bottom of the fifth.

Lewis (0-1) recorded the loss and four other Lion pitchers pitched one inning apiece to finish the game. Junior Craig Rodwogin and sophomore Henry Perkins recorded Columbia's two hits.

Columbia takes on Iona tomorrow, Monday, March 13 in Lantana, Fla. The first pitch is slated for 12:30 p.m.

Baseball Falls To Iona, 10-4

Malfettone Goes 3-For-4 At The Plate

March 13, 2006

Final Stats

LANTANA, FLA. - Despite tying up the score 4-4 in the fourth inning, the Lions fell to Iona 10-4. Sophomore Mike Malfettone had a good day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Columbia is now 0-8 on the season.

The Gaels took a four-run lead in the first inning managing to get three hits on two outs to push the runners across.

The Lions cut the lead in half, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. First-year Ron Williams led off the inning with a single to centerfield and moved over to third on a two-strike double from fellow first-year Jon Tasman. Williams crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from senior Michael DeFazio as Tasman stayed on second. On the next pitch, Tasman stole third and the Iona catcher overthrew the base, allowing Tasman to come home for the second run of the inning.

Columbia tied up the score at four all in the bottom of the fourth as DeFazio led off the inning with a triple to right center. With two outs, Malfettone hit a single to centerfield to score DeFazio. Malfettone crossed the plate himself as first-year Spencer Silverstein hit a double to right center to tie the score.

The Gaels went ahead 6-4 in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs off of two hits and a leadoff walk. Iona scored its final four runs of the game in the top of the eighth inning, off of three hits and two Columbia errors to win by a final score 10-4. Sophomore John Baumann (0-1) took the loss for the Lions, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs (two earned) while striking out four batters. Malfettone finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and one RBI.

The Lions face Rhode Island tomorrow, Tuesday, March 14, at 4:30 p.m. The game will be played at a neutral site in Lantana, Fla.