Baseball 5/23/2008 4:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Baseball Eliminated from MAAC Tournament

TRENTON, N.J. ? A two-run home run by Nick Messinger in the sixth inning proved to be the difference as the Canisius College baseball team was eliminated from the 2008 MAAC Tournament on Friday evening, as the Siena Saints defeated the Golden Griffins 5-2 at Waterfront Park in Trenton, N.J.

Each team would score single runs in the second inning as Siena got a one-out walk by Rick Seltzer and a double from Jason DeFilippo to put runners at second and third with one out. After Nick Messinger grounded out to third for the second out of the inning, Seltzer scored on a wild pitch by Canisius starter Mike Goemans to give the Saints the early lead.

Canisius (41-13) tied the game in the bottom of the second when Kevin Mahoney sent the 2-0 pitch over the fence in right field for his 12th home run of the season.

Siena (29-26) regained the lead in the top of the third, which started with a leadoff single by Kevin Quaranto. After the Griffs were unable to turn the double play, replacing Nick Klepps for Quaranto at first, Klepps stole second and moved to third on a single by Moises Rivera. Quaranto scored on a single to left by Jacob Willis to make the score 2-1.

Canisius tied the game in the fifth when Alec Cabello singled up the middle with one out. Ryan Asis followed with a deep drive to center field that went off the glove of DeFilippo. Cabello scored easily and Asis was thrown out at the play on the relay throw by Klepps, attempting to extend his triple to an inside-the-park home run.

Siena took the lead for good in the sixth when Seltzer led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DeFilippo. Messinger hit the 1-1 pitch over the fence in left to give Siena the 4-2 advantage.

Canisius would get base runners in each of the final four innings but couldn't cut into the Saints lead. Canisius had two runners reach with two outs in the sixth while Asis was hit by a pitch with two outs in the seventh and moved to third on consecutive wild pitchers. Kevin Mailloux led off the eighth with a double but the Griffs couldn't get the two-out hit. Cabello was hit by a pitch with two outs in the ninth but advanced no farther.

Goemans (7-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out a career-high seven batters in 7.1 innings pitched. Ryan McGorman pitched 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one hit and recording one strikeout.

Siena starter Will Hassett pitched into the eighth inning, allowing two runs on six hits, walking four and striking out five. The Saints' closer Dan Lazzaroni threw two scoreless innings of relief to record his sixth save of the season and second on the day.

Game Notes: In both of their losses, the Golden Griffins didn't have a player record multiple hits in a game... Goemans' previous career high for strikeouts was six, which came April 28, 2007, against Iona... McGorman set the school record for appearances in a season with 22... Cabello and Mailloux each had a team-high five hits in the MAAC Tournament while Cabello and Branson Joseph led the squad with four RBIs... Kevin Reimer went 3-for-8, but reached base in eight of his 13 plate appearances... Mahoney's home run ties him with Mailloux for the team lead with 12.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#15 Ryan McGorman: P; 6' 1"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#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

#15 Ryan McGorman
: 6' 1"; Junior
: P

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