Baseball 4/7/2008 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Baseball Takes Series From Rider

Box Score

A two-out, eighth-inning RBI single by freshman Brian Burton along with two scoreless innings of relief by senior Josh Sawatzky gave the Canisius College baseball team a 9-7 victory over the visiting Broncs at the Demske Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.

“I thought we showed up to play today. We did a much better job of competing, especially with two strikes,” Canisius coach Mike McRae said. “Sunday baseball can be a grind, and we need to persevere to win series.”

Rider jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, getting an RBI single from Maurice Williams and a bases-loaded walk from David Hayes as Canisius starter Mike Goemans walked three and hit a batter in the first inning. The Griffs responded with a run in the bottom of the first when Adam Donato scored on a RBI groundout by Kevin Mailloux.

Canisius (22-3, 5-1 MAAC) took the lead in the fourth, scoring two unearned runs on one of the six Rider errors in the game. Perry Silverman led off with a bunt single and Paul Panik walked. Alec Cabello reached on a fielder's choice and all three runners moved up on a throwing error, scoring Silverman. Panik would score on a RBI groundout by Donato, and Cabello scored on a RBI single from Mailloux.

The Broncs tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth when James Hayes reached on an error and came around to score on a double by Steve Galella. Sean Olson then brought Galella home with an RBI single.

Canisius retook the lead in the sixth when Donato reached with one out after being hit by a pitch. Ian Choy singled to put runners at first and second. Donato then stole third and scored on a throwing error while Choy advanced to second. Choy then stole third and scored on an RBI groundout by Ryan Asis to make it 6-4.

Rider (13-13, 4-5) took a 7-6 lead in the seventh on a three-run home run to left field by Williams. Canisius tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Kevin Mahoney reached on an error and moved to second when Burton drew a walk. Cabello singled up the middle as the grounder went off the glove of a diving John Ralston to load the bases. Donato would work a bases-loaded walk to make the score 7-7.

In the eighth, Rider had runners at first and second with one out when James Hayes singled to right. Donato threw out Jon Lesie at the plate to prevent the go-ahead run from scoring and keep the score tied.

After Asis flied out to start the eighth, Reimer was hit by a pitch and forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Mahoney. Pinch hitter Branson Joseph drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Burton then singled to center field, scoring Mahoney to make it 8-7. Joseph would take third base on a wild pitch and score on a throwing error.

Sawatzky, making his third appearance in the last eight days, picked up his third victory of the season. Goemans went six innings, allowing four hits, four runs, three earned, and walking three while striking out two.

Canisius continues its five-game homestand with a midweek game against Cleveland State Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Game Notes: The 22 wins stand as the second-most in program history, with the record being 28 victories by the 1994 squad... Canisius scored the winning runs in its last at-bat for the third time in the last seven games... Canisius has won seven straight series of three games or more for the first time in program history... The 5-1 start to MAAC play matches the best in school history, as the Griffs started 5-1 in 1994, en route to a 17-1 conference mark... Brian Gibbs made his first start since March 15, 2008, at Mount St. Mary's... Silverman started back-to-back games for the second time this season while Panik started back-to-back games for the first time in 2008... Donato's career-long hit streak came to an end at 10 games, but the senior extended his on-base streak to 23 games... Cabello now has the longest hitting streak on the team at nine games... Canisius stole six bases in the game and has 17 in the last five ... Sawatzky made his first relief appearance since March 13, 2006, as a member of Niagara University in a game against Marshall.

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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

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

#34 Brian Gibbs: 1B; 6' 1"; Junior

#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

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

#27 Josh Sawatzky: P; 6' 4"; Redshirt

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

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

#34 Brian Gibbs
: 6' 1"; Junior
: 1B

#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

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

#27 Josh Sawatzky
: 6' 4"; Redshirt
: P