NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Iona Gaels rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to overcome an early three-run deficit and defeat the Marist Red Foxes 5-3 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball game Saturday at City Park.

The comeback victory, which unfolded under the lights after an afternoon start, evened the weekend series at one game apiece after Marist’s 1-0 win on Friday. It improved Iona’s record to 6-10 overall, while Marist fell to 6-15.

Marist ambushed Iona starter Brendan Callanan in the first inning, loading the bases with one out. Nathan Lincoln delivered the big blow, a two-run single up the middle to score TJ Baer and Noel Rivera. Lincoln added a third RBI in the third inning with a sacrifice bunt that plated Connor Lawrence, staking the Red Foxes to a 3-0 lead.

Iona chipped away in its half of the first. Damian Rodriguez led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Sean Stephenson. That was all the Gaels could muster against Marist starter Tyler Hartley for the next five innings, as he worked around traffic and benefitted from a first-inning double play.

The game turned decisively in the seventh. Hartley, who had allowed no earned runs on four hits through six innings, ran into immediate trouble. Nico Zollo, pinch-hitter Michael Costello and Frankie Ciprian opened the frame with three consecutive singles to load the bases with nobody out. Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch, forcing in a run to make it 3-2.

Marist summoned reliever Aidan Vargas from the bullpen, but Stephenson greeted him with a two-run single through the right side, giving Iona its first lead at 4-3. After a double steal put runners on second and third, Jordan Overton lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Rodriguez to cap the four-run outburst and provide a critical insurance run.

The most important part of the game was Iona’s two-out hitting in that pivotal seventh inning. After Vargas entered and recorded a strikeout, Stephenson’s single came with two strikes, driving in the go-ahead runs and shifting all momentum to the Gaels.

Iona’s bullpen sealed the win, highlighted by a stellar performance from Luke Lang. The reliever entered with one out in the fifth and shut down the Marist offense over the final 4 2/3 innings. He allowed no runs on just four hits, striking out two and walking none to earn the win. His outing provided stability after Callanan lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

Lang’s performance continued a strong recent trend, following three scoreless innings against Merrimack on March 15.

Hartley took the hard-luck loss for Marist, charged with five runs (four earned) on nine hits over six-plus innings. The Red Foxes out-hit the Gaels 11-9 but went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight baserunners. Lincoln finished 2 for 3 with all three Marist RBIs. Stephenson led Iona, going 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 5-4 Marist victory and gave the Red Foxes a 67.4% probability of winning based on its ELO system.

The teams conclude their three-game MAAC series on Sunday afternoon.