The Canisius College baseball team saw its six-game winning streak as well as its streak of winning eight consecutive series come to an end at the Demske Sports Complex Saturday afternoon. Siena swept a doubleheader from Canisius, winning the first game 12-6 before taking the second contest 3-1.
Siena hit three home runs in the first game, collecting 16 hits off Canisius pitching. The Saints used three singles in the first to take a 1-0 lead. Canisius (28-6, 8-3 MAAC) responded with two runs in the second as Ryan Asis singled up the middle to score Kevin Mailloux and Kevin Mahoney. The Saints then scored eight straight runs to take control of the game.
An RBI single Jason DeFillippo tied the game at 2-2 in the third. Chris Klepps homered to left in the fourth to give Siena a 5-2 advantage. The Saints (14-22, 7-7) extended that lead on a two-run homer by Eric Mrcuzek in the fifth. Jacob Willis added a two-run homer of his own in the sixth to make it 9-2 and chase Alex MacKenzie. MacKenzie (4-2) allowed 13 hits, nine runs, eight earned, and walked two in his five-plus innings of work. Matt Weber relieved MacKenzie and allowed a two-RBI single to Phil Cahill, making the score 11-2.
The Griffs responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Choy and Branson Joseph started the inning with singles. Joseph was retired at second on a fielder's choice by Mailloux. Kevin Reimer walked to load the bases. Mahoney singled through the right side to score Choy and Mailloux and make the score 11-4. Asis then hit into a double play and ended the Canisius rally.
Siena took advantage of two Canisius errors in the seventh to add another run. The Griffs scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth when Choy led off with a double and Joseph homered to left to make it 12-6. Mailloux was hit by a pitch, and Dan Lazzaroni came in to relieve Siena starter Craig Chaput. Mailloux was picked off first base on a throw by Cahill, the Siena catcher, effectively ending the Canisius rally.
In the second game, both starters went the distance as Zach Hartman (4-0) earned the win for the Saints. Shane Davis (7-1) picked up his first loss, allowing five hits, three runs, all unearned, walking two and striking out four.
The game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, when Mahoney hit a deep fly ball to center than ended up being a ground-rule double as it bounced over the fence. Brian Burton followed with a single to right, scoring Mahoney and making it 1-0.
The Saints would score three unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Eric Mruczek led off the inning and reached on a throwing error by Mahoney when his throw went up the line. As Connor Burke attempted to apply the tag, the ball came flying out, allowing Mruczek to be safe. After a sacrifice bunt by DeFillippo, Nick Messinger doubled down the left-field line to tie the game. Davis got pinch hitter Don DiPetta to pop out for the second out of the inning. Anthony Giansanti then singled through the hole of the left side to score Messinger, making the score 2-1, and advanced to second on the throw by Choy. Giansanti would then score on a bloop single to left by Klepps, making the score 3-1.
Donato singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh to get the tying run on base, but Hartman was able to retire the side to end the game.
Canisius and Siena close out the three-game series Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
Game Notes: The last time Canisius dropped a three-game series was May 12-13, 2007, also against Siena... Canisius last lost a three-game series at home March 31-April 1, 2007, against Marist... Donato failed to reach base in the first game of the doubleheader, ending his consecutive games streak of reaching base at 29 games... Burke extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his career long from last season... Mahoney led the Griffs with four hits on the day... Canisius committed three or more errors in a game for the third time this season... Canisius lost back-to-back games for the first time this season... Canisius lost both games of a home doubleheader for the first time since April 18, 2007, which came against St. Bonaventure... The 16 hits by Siena in the first game were a season high for a Canisius opponent... Donato had his seventh assist of the season in the first game, the most by a Canisius outfielder this season.
