Getting a combined shutout from juniors Alex MacKenzie and Ryan McGorman in the opener and 10 runs from the offense in the second game, the Canisius College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Fairfield at Alumni Diamond in Fairfield, Conn. on Saturday afternoon. The Griffs won the first game 5-0 and took the nightcap 10-3.
The wins allow Canisius to clinch a spot in the 2008 MAAC Championship to be held at Waterfront Park in Trenton N.J. May 22-24. The Griffs qualify for the MAAC Tournament for the second consecutive season and third time in program history.
The shutout for the Canisius pitching staff in the first game was the third shutout in as many games. MacKenzie allowed five hits and walked two while striking out six. McGorman pitched a perfect ninth to close out the victory.
Canisius (37-10, 16-4 MAAC) broke a scoreless game in the sixth when Kevin Mahoney led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout by Brian Burton. Mahoney would score on a one-out double by Kevin Reimer.
Canisius added four insurance runs in the ninth with three of the runs being unearned. Connor Burke walked with one out and Perry Silverman followed with a bunt single past the first-base side of the mound. After a double steal put runners at second and third, Alec Cabello followed with a groundball to first. Fairfield first baseman Mike Joyce sailed the ball over the head of catcher Mike Weiner, allowing Burke to slide in safely and Silverman to score as well. After Ian Choy struck out, Branson Joseph followed with a two-run homer to left to make it 5-0.
MacKenzie pitched out of a couple of jams, getting a double play in the fourth with the bases loaded and one out. In the eighth, Fairfield (14-32, 11-9) had the tying run at second with two outs but MacKenzie struck out David Dudish looking with a 3-2 curveball.
In the nightcap, the Griffs took the lead with two runs in the second and third innings. Reimer led off the second with a walk, stole second and would come around to score on an RBI single from Ryan Asis. After a wild pitch moved Asis to second, Cabello flied out to right and Asis advanced to third. Choy would bring Asis home with a sacrifice fly.
The Griffs added two more in the third, with Mahoney drawing a one-out walk and Reimer hitting a two-run homer to right.
The Stags scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth off Canisius starter Shane Davis, ending a string of 28 consecutive scoreless innings by the Golden Griffin pitching staff. Each team would score once in the fifth, with the Griffs getting their run on a double steal by Mahoney and Kevin Mailloux.
With the score 5-3, the Griffs put the game away from two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Mailloux had a two-out, two-RBI single in the sixth. With Silverman at first in the seventh, Reimer singled through the left side and Silverman came home on a throwing error. Cabello made the score 10-3 with a two-out, two-RBI single to right.
Davis (10-1) pitched his eighth consecutive complete game to earn his 10th victory of the season, extending his program records in both categories. The freshman lefty yielded three runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out five.
Canisius and Fairfield close out the three-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
Game Notes: The Griffs will play in the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history as they also qualified for the MAAC Tournament in 1994... Canisius has won five of its last six against Fairfield... MacKenzie threw two seven-inning shutouts as a sophomore... The 28 consecutive scoreless innings by the Canisius pitching staff sets a program record... Canisius improves to 8-0 in MAAC road games this season and 28-4 in games played away from home... Canisius is on a winning streak of six games or more for the fourth time this season... Canisius has not trailed in the last five games... The three earned runs by Davis are the second most allowed by the freshman this season.
