NORFOLK, Va. – Iona broke a 1-1 tie by scoring twice in the seventh inning, then pulled away for a 6-1 win over Norfolk State on Saturday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

The Gaels (1-4) picked up their first win of the season, while NSU remains winless at 0-5.

Locked in a 1-1 pitcher's duel, Iona scored two runs thanks to a pair of Spartan errors in the seventh. Brian Picone led off with a single and took second base on an outfield error. A walk put two runners on before the second miscue of the inning allowed Picone to score the go-ahead run. Fran Kinsey's sacrifice fly later in the frame made it 3-1.

The Spartans had a prime chance to score in the eighth. Khie Simms led off with a single and one out later, Alsander Womack also singled to put the potential tying runs on base. But Iona reliever Mario Ferraioli retired the last two batters of the inning, one on a sharp lineout, to end the threat.

The Gaels tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth. Kinsey hit an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch. Lou Matarazzo's sacrifice fly capped the rally.

Until the later innings, the majority of the game featured excellent pitching by two right handers, NSU's Jonathan Mahoney and Iona's Joe DeRosa. Both hurlers allowed just one run over the first six innings.

Iona scored an unearned run in the third on a double play to score the game's first run. The Spartans tied it in the fourth. Womack led off by reaching on an Iona error, and after a fielder's choice, Aaron Robinson's double put two men in scoring position. Justin Burrell followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Mahoney was the tough-luck losing pitcher, tossing 8.1 innings and allowing just six hits. He yielded five runs, but just two were earned. He struck out four batters.

DeRosa got the win, striking out eight batters and allowing one unearned run in 7.1 innings pitched. Ferraioli picked up the save with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.

In his first start of the season, Robinson led the Spartans with two hits, including a double in a 2-for-4 day. Baughan also doubled as the Spartans out-hit Iona 7-6.

The Spartans conclude their weekend by facing Stony Brook at 3 p.m. Sunday.