The Canisius College baseball team used solid pitching in game one and the home run ball in game two to sweep St. Bonaventure in a non-conference doubleheader at Fred Handler Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Griffins took game one 2-0 and won game two 11-7 to extend their winning streak to six games.
In the first game, Josh Sawatzky (pictured) went 5.2 scoreless innings, allowed four hits and walked two to improve to 4-1 on the season. Matt Weber and Ryan McGorman each worked 0.2 scoreless innings of relief, with McGorman picking up his fifth save of the season. Canisius (28-4) hit four home runs in the nightcap, getting two from Kevin Mailloux, along with a home run from Kevin Mahoney and Perry Silverman.
Canisius scored single runs in the first and third innings. Adam Donato and Ian Choy walked to start the game with Donato moving to third on a double-play groundball. Donato then scored on a two-out RBI single by Kevin Reimer.
In the third, Choy doubled to left with one out. After Kevin Mailloux struck out, Reimer had his second two-out RBI single of the game to score Choy and make the game 2-0.
Weber entered the game with two on and two out in the sixth. The junior got Jamie Wallschlager to ground out to end the inning. In the seventh, Weber got Ryan Mosher to fly out to start the inning and then walked Kevin Suminski. McGorman came in and gave up a single to Nick Cunliffe to put runners at first and second. McGorman then struck out Randy Moley and got Anthony Randicht fly out to Choy to end the game.
In game two, Canisius took a 3-0 lead by scoring twice in the second inning and once in the third. Brian Burton had an RBI groundout and Paul Panik had an RBI single to get Canisius on the board in the second. Mailloux hit his first homer of the day in the third to make it 3-0.
The Bonnies (17-13) scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-3 lead. Moley had an RBI double while Randich singled home Moley to make it 3-2. Brad Steinbach reached on an error by Mahoney, and Randich scored to tie the game. After Jesse Bosnik was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Ryan Mosher walked to force home a run and make it 4-3.
Each team scored three runs in the fifth, with the Griffs' runs coming on a three-run homer by Mahoney. The Bonnies responded with a two-RBI triple by pinch hitter Josh Sova to tie the game. Anthony Muccoli pinch ran for Sova and scored later in the inning on a groundout to make it 7-6.
Canisius reclaimed the lead in the sixth when the first three batters reached to start the inning ? Panik walked, Alec Cabello reached on an error and Donato walked to load the bases. After Choy struck out, Branson Joseph hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Mailloux then hit his second homer of the day ? a three-run shot to left center ? to make it 10-7.
Silverman added a solo home run, his second of the season, in the seventh to make it 11-7.
McGorman (4-2) picked up the win in the second game, going 2.2
scoreless innings and striking out three. Josh Marshall made the start, pitching three innings and allowing four runs, two earned.
Canisius returns home for a weekend series against Siena. The Griffs and Saints start the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius has won five straight against St. Bonaventure and nine of its last 11 against the Big Four schools... The 5.2 scoreless innings by Sawatzky were the most thrown by the senior without giving up a run since he went six scoreless innings against Saint Peter's May 19, 2006... Canisius shut out an opponent for the first time this season and for the first time on the road since March 16, 2002, a 6-0 win at Saint Peter's... Cabello was caught stealing in the second game of the doubleheader for the first time this season. The junior shortstop was 9-for-9 entering Wednesday... McGorman has either had a save or been a part of the decision in seven of his last eight appearances... Canisius scored the winning runs in one of their final two at-bats for the eighth time this season.
