Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Gardner-Webb

The Canisius College baseball team split a doubleheader at Gardner-Webb on Saturday, dropping the first game 6-4 and winning the nightcap 10-7.

On the day, senior Kevin Mahoney reached base in five of seven plate appearances and had a home run and three RBIs. Sophomore Brian Burton had two solo home runs while senior Branson Joseph had three hits and four RBIs from the leadoff spot, including a three-run homer.

“We still made several key mistakes today that hurt us, and we were unable to overcome them in the first game,” Canisius coach Mike McRae said. “Fortunately, our hitters did a great job making some adjustments in game two, and we swung the bats well.

“If we continue to improve, then I like our chances on Sunday.”

In the second game, Canisius scored in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from Mahoney. Gardner-Webb took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on bunts and getting a solo homer from Justin Loyd.

The teams each scored a single run in the fourth, and Canisius took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth with Joseph's three-run home run. Gardner-Webb tied the game in the fifth on an RBI double from Bubbie Spake.

Canisius retook the lead with two runs in the top of the sixth, getting a solo homer from Burton ? his second of the game ? and an RBI single from Connor Burke. After Gardner-Webb responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-6, Canisius gained some breathing room with three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Shayne Willson had an RBI single while Steve McQuail had a two-out, two-RBI single.

Shane Davis (1-0) went the distance to pick up the win, allowing 10 hits, seven runs, walking one and striking out three.

In the first game on the day, Gardner-Webb jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the bottom of the first. The first four batters reached base, capped by a grand slam from Spake.

Canisius chipped away at the lead, getting a leadoff homer in the second from Mahoney. The Griffs made it 4-3 in the third with an RBI single from Joseph and bases-loaded walk from Mahoney.

Gardner-Webb scored single runs in the fourth and sixth to push the lead out to 6-3. The Griffs had the first two batters reach base in the seventh, but Gardner-Webb induced a double play to slow the Canisius rally.

Alex MacKenzie (0-1) went the distance for the Griffs, allowing six runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out five.

Canisius and Gardner-Webb wrap up the four-game set with a single game on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Connor Burke: 1B/OF; 6' 0"; Senior

#33 Brian Burton: 1B; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#32 Shane Davis: P; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#2 Branson Joseph: OF; 6' 0"; Senior

#35 Alex MacKenzie: P; 6' 0"; Senior

#4 Kevin Mahoney: 3B; 6' 0"; Senior

#1 Steve McQuail: IF; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#9 Shayne Willson: OF; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Connor Burke
: 6' 0"; Senior
: 1B/OF

#33 Brian Burton
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: 1B

#32 Shane Davis
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: P

#2 Branson Joseph
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OF

#35 Alex MacKenzie
: 6' 0"; Senior
: P

#4 Kevin Mahoney
: 6' 0"; Senior
: 3B

#1 Steve McQuail
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: IF

#9 Shayne Willson
: 6' 2"; Junior
: OF