BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn baseball team saw an early lead disappear at LIU Field Wednesday afternoon, as the Blackbirds fell to Iona, 13-5 in non-conference action. With the loss, LIU stands at 9-17 overall this season, heading into a four game series with Mount St. Mary's at home this weekend.

The Blackbirds took an early lead in the team's second-straight home game, with sophomore Tommy Jakubowski's two-out double in the bottom of the first inning. Junior John Serrano brought him home with a long single to center field, and LIU was up, 1-0.

Junior Chas Lacko had the start on the mound for LIU, and got out of a jam in the top of the second inning. Back-to-back singles from Iona put two runners in scoring position for the visiting team, but Lacko was able to get the batter out swinging to end the inning and the threat.

LIU added another run in the bottom of the second frame. Senior Bobby Webb doubled to center field, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Junior Brian Lamboy had the RBI ground out, giving the Blackbirds a 2-0 advantage.

But the Gaels started to make headway in the top of the third. A lead-off walk was converted into a run with an RBI triple, and a second run scored on a wild pitch, knotting the score up, 2-2. Lacko was able to get the final two batters to strike out and end the inning, limiting the damage.

The Gaels used three walks and a single in the top of the fourth to add the go-ahead run, and two more runs would score on a double down the left field line, giving Iona the 5-2 lead.

LIU answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Melvin Rios led off with a double, and came home two batters later, on Lamboy's sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 5-3. But a three-run homer in the top of the fifth put the game out of reach for good, putting Iona up, 8-3.

The Blackbirds added a run in the fifth, on Jakubowski's RBI triple, and in the bottom of the seventh, on Serrano's RBI sac fly, but it wasn't enough. Iona added two runs in the top of the sixth, and three in the top of the seventh to take the win by a final score of 13-5.

Max Bruckner got a no decision for the Gaels, pitching the first four innings, and giving up three runs. Joe DeRosa earned the win, pitching 2.0 innings for Iona and giving up just two hits.

Lacko had the loss for LIU (1-2), giving up five runs in 3.2 innings of work, while Nick Freijomil and Matt Ornstein combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Sophomore Charlie Misiano led LIU at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored, while Tommy Jakubowski went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Juniors John Serrano and Brian Lamboy combined for four of LIU's RBI in the loss.

Up next, LIU hosts Mount St. Mary's for a four-game Northeast Conference series at LIU Field, Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12.