Baseball 3/2/2008 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Baseball Splits with Appalachian State

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

After falling in the bottom of the seventh in game one of the doubleheader and trailing 5-0 after the first inning of the second game, the Canisius College baseball team scored 11 runs in the final three innings of the nightcap to split a doubleheader with Appalachian State on Saturday in Kannapolis, N.C. The Griffs lost 7-6 in the first game and won 11-5 in the second game of the day.

On the day, Branson Joseph had four hits, two RBIs and three runs scored while Ian Choy also had four hits. Kevin Mailloux had two hits, three runs scored and two steals while Alec Cabello had three hits and scored three runs. Playing only the second game, Kevin Reimer added three hits and three RBIs.

Canisius (6-1) jumped out early in the first game, scoring four in the second inning. A two-RBI double by Paul Panik scored Kevin Mahoney and Mailloux and the Griffs also scored two runs on a wild pitch and errant throw to make it 4-0. After the Mountaineers responded with a run in the bottom of the second, Canisius pushed its lead back to four runs on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Asis.

Appalachian State then scored four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 5-5. David Rubinstein hit a two-run homer after Nick DeRose walked to start the inning. Appalachian State then received an RBI double from Jerod Faggart and RBI single from Wes Hobson to tie the game. Ryan McGorman relieved Mike Goemans with two outs in the third and ended the inning by forcing a groundout.

Canisius retook the lead in the fourth as the Griffs strung three consecutive hits together. After Panik grounded out to short, Cabello, Adam Donato and Choy each singled, with Choy's single scoring Cabello to make it 6-5.

McGorman retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced and was on the mound in the seventh when Appalachian State rallied for the win. Rubinstein walked and pinch-hitter Jason Rook singled through the right side and advanced to second on a throw to third. Issac Harrow then singled up the middle to score Rubinstein and Rook for the walk-off victory.

“In game one, we didn't execute very well in several areas, which was the difference between winning and losing,” Canisius coach Mike McRae said. “We overcame some adversity with a tough first loss and a tough first inning by scoring 11 runs in last three innings.

“I'm extremely proud of the character we showed today and the way our team responded to adversity.”

Appalachian State carried that momentum into the beginning of the second game, scoring five runs on one hit off Josh Sawatzky. After Jason Altenhof popped out to start the inning, Sawatsky put the next three on via two walks and a hit by pitch. A wild pitch scored DeRose and another walk reloaded the bases. A bases-clearing triple by Hobson made it 4-0 while a groundout by David Towarnicky made it 5-0.

Matt Weber relieved Sawatzky and pitched six scoreless innings. Weber allowed two hits and walked four while striking out four and facing 22 batters, just four over the minimum, in his six innings of work.

Canisius rallied for the win by scoring two runs in the fifth, seven in the sixth and two in the seventh. The Griffs got on the board on a two-RBI single from Reimer. After Donato walked with the bases loaded, Canisius took the lead in the sixth when Joseph and Mailloux each delivered with two-RBI singles. Brian Burton then had a two-RBI double to complete the scoring and make it 9-5.

The Griffs added some insurance runs in the seventh by scoring twice with two outs. After Choy reached on a single and advanced to second on an error, Joseph reached on a throwing error, which scored Choy and moved Joseph to second. After a wild pitch, Joseph scored the 11th and final run of the day on a single by Reimer.

Canisius and Appalachian State conclude the four-game series with a nine-inning game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Notes: The 6-1 start is the best for Canisius since 1954, when the Griffs started 7-0... The win for Weber is his first since April 4, 2007, against Buffalo... The six innings pitched by Weber are the most the junior's thrown in one game without allowing a run... Canisius has scored at least four runs in an inning in six of the team's seven games this season... Joseph has a hit in the last six games... Perry Silverman received his first start of the season, leading off in the second game... Donato pinch hit for Silverman in the second game and saw his six-game hit streak to open the season come to an end... Reimer has seven hits and 10 RBIs in his last three games... Scheduled to start for the Griffs on Sunday is freshman Shane Davis.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Ryan Asis: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Senior

#33 Brian Burton: 1B; 6' 1"; Freshman

#22 Alec Cabello: SS; 5' 10"; Junior

#17 Ian Choy: OF; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#32 Shane Davis: P; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#11 Adam Donato: OF; 5' 9"; Senior

#19 Mike Goemans: P; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#2 Branson Joseph: OF; 5' 11"; Junior

#4 Kevin Mahoney: 3B; 6' 0"; Junior

#12 Kevin Mailloux: 2B; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#15 Ryan McGorman: P; 6' 1"; Junior

#29 Paul Panik: C; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#7 Ryan Asis
: 5' 7"; Senior
: IF/OF

#33 Brian Burton
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: 1B

#22 Alec Cabello
: 5' 10"; Junior
: SS

#17 Ian Choy
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: OF

#32 Shane Davis
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: P

#11 Adam Donato
: 5' 9"; Senior
: OF

#19 Mike Goemans
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: P

#2 Branson Joseph
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OF

#4 Kevin Mahoney
: 6' 0"; Junior
: 3B

#12 Kevin Mailloux
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: 2B

#15 Ryan McGorman
: 6' 1"; Junior
: P

#29 Paul Panik
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: C