Baseball 2/22/2009 5:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Baseball Loses Series Finale to Gardner-Webb

The Canisius College baseball team dropped the final game of its four-game set at Gardner-Webb, losing 7-6 to the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Sophomore Steve McQuail led the Golden Griffins (1-3) with three hits on the day as Kevin Mailloux had the other multi-hit game for the Griffs with two hits. Five Golden Griffins recorded an RBI in the contest while Brian Burton led the team with three runs scored and Mailloux scored twice.

Gardner-Webb took the lead in the bottom of the first by scoring two runs with just one hit. The first five players reached base for the Bulldogs against Canisius starter Benson Merritt. Canisius sophomore Josh Marshall came into the game with the bases loaded and no outs, and the lefty induced a double play and then recorded a strikeout to limit the Gardner-Webb damage.

Canisius scored single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-2 lead. Alec Cabello had an RBI groundout in the second, Brian Burton scored on an errant throw in the fourth and Mailloux had an RBI single in the fifth.

Gardner-Webb tied the game in the bottom of the fifth before Canisius retook the lead in the top of the sixth, getting an RBI single from Shayne Willson.

The score stayed 4-3 in favor of the Griffs until the bottom of the eighth when Gardner-Webb scored four runs on two hits, taking advantage of two Canisius errors. Ty Boyles was hit by pitch to start the inning, but Ryan McGorman got the next two batters to strike out. Boyles had moved to second on a wild pitch, then stole third and came around to score on an errant throw by catcher Connor Burke. Later in the inning, Daniel Cooke had a two-RBI double and Justin Loyd had an RBI single to make it 7-4 for Gardner-Webb.

Canisius mounted a rally in the ninth, getting four consecutive one-out singles as the single from Burke scored Burton to make it 7-5 and keep the bases loaded. Pinch hitter Perry Silverman brought home McQuail with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6. Burke and Mailloux each stole a base to put runners at second and third, but Branson Joseph grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

McGorman (0-1) took the loss for Canisius, allowing four unearned runs in his 3.2 innings of work. Marshall relieved Merritt and allowed one run in 4.1 innings out of the bullpen. Ryan Maxa (1-0) picked up the win for Gardner-Webb, allowing three runs in four innings of relief.

Canisius returns to the field next weekend for four games in Charlotte, N.C. The Griffs will play Oakland at 11 a.m., on Friday, before starting a three-game series against Charlotte with first pitch on Friday scheduled for 4 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#12 Kevin Mailloux: 2B; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior

#30 Josh Marshall: P; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#15 Ryan McGorman: P; 6' 2"; Senior

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

#27 Benson Merritt: P; 6' 1"; Freshman

#24 Perry Silverman: OF; 5' 10"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#12 Kevin Mailloux
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior
: 2B

#30 Josh Marshall
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: P

#15 Ryan McGorman
: 6' 2"; Senior
: P

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

#27 Benson Merritt
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: P

#24 Perry Silverman
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OF

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