Baseball 3/30/2008 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Baseball Opens MAAC Schedule with Sweep of Iona

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Behind complete games from junior Alex MacKenzie and freshman Shane Davis and two home runs by junior Connor Burke, the Canisius College baseball team swept Iona in a doubleheader at the Demske Sports Complex on Saturday. The Griffs won game one 5-1 and took the second game 8-1. Canisius has won eight straight games, which is the team's longest winning streak since the 1994 season. The Griffs are also on an 11-game home winning streak, with all of those victories coming against MAAC opponents.

MacKenzie (4-1) allowed five hits in his nine innings of work and walked two while striking out seven for the first nine-inning complete game of his career. Davis (5-0) threw his second consecutive complete game, allowing five hits and walking one, while striking out five, in seven innings.

Connor Burke hit two home runs and drove in five while scoring three runs on the day. Ryan Asis had three RBIs, and Kevin Mailloux and Adam Donato each had four hits against the Gaels.

“It's great to start our conference schedule with two victories,” Canisius coach Mike McRae said. “We received two outstanding pitching performances today from Alex and Shane We also got some timely hitting and some great defense.

"We need to come back on Sunday and do it again."

In the first game, Canisius (18-2, 2-0 MAAC) scored in the bottom of the first when Kevin Reimer and Mailloux each singled to start the inning. After a groundout by Asis advanced the runners, Kevin Mahoney popped out for the second out of the inning. Reimer then scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.

After two of the first three Gaels reached in the first, MacKenzie retired 15 consecutive batters, a stretch that was broken by a Paul Salerno single in the sixth. Iona (1-18, 1-4 MAAC) tied it in the seventh on three consecutive singles. Michael Sevilla and Mike Walraven singled to put runners on first and second. Then Chris Leahy flared a single to short left field, scoring Sevilla to tie the game.

The Griffs scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth, all with two outs. Asis started the rally with a walk and Mahoney followed with a single. Burke then homered to left to make it 4-1. Alec Cabello singled to right, stole second and scored on a double by Donato.

In the second game, Iona took the early lead as the first three Gaels reached base. After Salerno walked, Leahy walked and Allie Abbatiello singled to score Salerno. Leahy got caught in a rundown for the first out of the inning. After Abbatiello's single, Davis retired seven straight batters and 20 of the final 23 for his fifth victory of the season.

Canisius scored in each inning of the nightcap. Mailloux tied the game with an RBI single in the first. The Griffs took advantage of a throwing error by pitcher Kevin Carmody to score three in the second. After Burke and Mahoney led off with singles, Paul Panik dropped a sacrifice bunt. Carmody attempted to throw out Burke at third, but his throw was in the dirt and went into left field, allowing Burke to score and for Mahoney to advance to third. Cabello grounded out, scoring Mahoney and Asis singled later in the inning to score Cabello.

Canisius added single runs in the next four innings, getting a homer from Burke in the third, an RBI single by Asis in the fourth, a sacrifice fly by Burke in the fifth and a sacrifice fly by Asis in the sixth.

Canisius and Iona conclude the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Game Notes: Canisius won its home opener for the second consecutive year, which last happened from 1994 to 1997 when the Griffs won four straight... Canisius opened 2-0 in the MAAC for the first time since 2001... Canisius received complete games in the same doubleheader for the first time since April 21, 2007 when Mike Goemans and MacKenzie accomplished the feat against Fairfield... MacKenzie has allowed 16 earned runs in his last 78.1 innings pitched... Davis has allowed four earned runs in his last 30.1 innings pitched... Asis has eight RBIs in the last five games... Burke has homered in three straight games and is 6-for-11 during that stretch... Donato has a career-long six-game hitting streak... Mahoney and Mailloux also are currently riding six-game hitting streaks.

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Players Mentioned

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

#5 Connor Burke: 1B/OF; 6' 0"; Junior

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

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

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

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

#35 Alex MacKenzie: P; 6' 0"; Junior

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

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

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

#28 Kevin Reimer: C; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#5 Connor Burke
: 6' 0"; Junior
: 1B/OF

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

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

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

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

#35 Alex MacKenzie
: 6' 0"; Junior
: P

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

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

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

#28 Kevin Reimer
: 6' 0"; Senior
: C