Box Score
Down 6-4 heading into the eighth, the Canisius College baseball team scored seven unanswered runs in the final two innings to defeat Penn State 11-6 in University Park, Pa. on Monday.
Senior Ryan Asis and junior Kevin Mailloux each had three hits for Canisius (14-2). Asis and junior Kevin Mahoney each scored three runs for the Griffs while Mahoney led the team with three RBIs as Asis and senior Adam Donato each drove in two.
“Our team continued to battle today, despite falling behind on a couple of occasions, and never gave up,” Canisius coach Mike McRae said. “We carried that over from our wins at Le Moyne, and it's encouraging to see those traits developing in the team as we head into the conference schedule this weekend.”
Penn State (5-12) scored one run in the first, despite Canisius starter Josh Sawatzky walking the bases loaded to start the game. Wes Borden scored on a fielder's choice, but Sawatzky was able to induce a double play from Cory Wine to keep it a 1-0 game.
After the Nittany Lions added another run in the third, Canisius scored three times in the fourth. After Mailloux walked and Asis singled, Mahoney tripled to right center to drive in two. Connor Burke then brought Mahoney home with a sacrifice fly to give the Griffs the 3-2 lead.
Mahoney hit his third home run of the season in the sixth inning to make it 4-2. The Nittany Lions would tie the game in the bottom of the inning, getting two runs off Matt Weber, who relieved Sawatzky in the fifth. After two fly outs to start the inning, Grant Youngblood walked, advanced to second on a balk and to third on a wild pitch. A walk to Louie Picconi put runners at the corners and Weber's second balk of the inning scored Youngblood. Picconi then scored on an RBI single from Borden to make it 4-4.
Penn State retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on the corners and one out, a bunt single by Ryan Boonie scored Joe Blackburn and put runners at first and second. A walk to Youngblood loaded the bases and Ryan McGorman, who relieved Weber earlier in the inning, hit Picconi to score Rick Marlin and make it 6-4.
Canisius would then score fourth in the eighth to reclaim the lead for good and extended its lead with three more runs in the ninth. In the eighth, Kevin Reimer reached base after getting hit by a pitch and scored on an error following a double by Mailloux. Asis brought home Mailloux with an RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. After Brian Burton was hit by a pitch and Alec Cabello grounded out to put runners at second and third with two outs, Donato doubled down the right field line to put Canisius up 8-6.
In the ninth, Branson Joseph led off with a single. Reimer struck out and Mailloux followed Reimer with a single. Asis doubled to score Joseph and move Mailloux to third. Mailloux would then be thrown out at home on a fielder's choice by Mahoney. With runners at the corners, Asis would score on a wild pitch, moving Mahoney to second. Burton then singled up the middle to score Mahoney and close out the scoring.
McGorman (1-1) picked up his first win of the season while allowing six hits, walking two and striking out three in 2.2 innings. Sawatzky threw 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs while walking six.
Canisius starts a two-game series at Delaware State on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. each day.
Game Notes: Canisius defeats a Big Ten school for the first time in program history... Canisius became the first MAAC school to defeat a Big Ten school since March 11, 2000, when Iona defeated Michigan State... The Griffs were previously 0-10 against teams in the Big Ten, owning a 0-8 record against Ohio State and 0-1 record against Indiana and Iowa... The last time Canisius played a Big Ten school was March 22, 1998, against Ohio State... Canisius allowed more then four runs in a game for the first time in nine contests... Canisius scored four or more runs in an inning for the 12th time this season... McGorman picked up his first win in relief since March 9, 2007, against Morehead State.
