Baseball Drops First Game of Series at Morehead State

Eight consecutive runs, including a five-run sixth inning propelled Morehead State past the Canisius College baseball team on Friday, with the Golden Griffins losing 9-5. Canisius falls to 3-7 on the season.

Three Golden Griffins hit home runs on the day, as senior Kevin Mahoney was 1-for-3 with two walks and has now reached base in nine of his last 14 plate appearances. Junior Shayne Willson had a homer and two RBIs while Brian Gibbs had a pinch-hit homer for the Griffs. Senior Connor Burke and Kevin Mailloux had a team-best two hits on the day, with Mailloux extending his hitting streak to 16 games.

After Morehead State scored one run in the bottom of the first, Canisius took a 3-1 lead with a three-run third inning. Mahoney tied the game with a one-out, solo home run. Mailloux followed with a single and after Brian Burton strikeout, Willson gave Canisius a 3-1 lead with a two-run homer.

In the bottom of the third, Morehead State took advantage of a two-out walk from Canisius starter Shane Davis and then got a two-out, two-run homer from Drew Lee to tie the game at 3-3.

That two-run third started a stretch of eight consecutive runs by Morehead State. The Eagles scored once in the fifth and then five times in the sixth, with four of the runs coming with two outs. After a sacrifice fly from JD Ashbrook made the score 5-3, Daniel Pugh had an RBI single, Michael Bottoms had an RBI double and Andrew Deeds capped the scoring with a two-RBI single to make the score 9-3.

Gibbs started the ninth with a pinch-hit homer and Branson Joseph followed with a double. Steve McQuail grounded out and Mahoney struck out for the second out of the ninth. Joseph would score after Mailloux reached on an error, but Burton's groundball to second retired Mailloux on a fielder's choice to end the game.

Davis (1-2) started and allowed four runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings of work. Josh Marshall allowed five runs in an inning of relief out of the bullpen while Ryan McGorman pitched a scoreless 2.1 innings of relief and struck out three.

Canisius and Morehead State will play two games on Saturday, with the doubleheader scheduled to start at 12 p.m.

Game Notes: Gibbs also had a pinch-hit home run at Fairfield, in a 13-7 win on May 11, 2008... Mailloux's hitting streak is the longest since a 16-game streak by current volunteer assistant coach Matt Mazurek during the 2006 season... Mahoney tied Burton for the team lead in home runs with four... Canisius has 12 home runs in the last three games... Burke leads the team in on-base percentage at .543.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#25 Brian Gibbs: 1B; 6' 1"; Senior

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

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

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

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

#25 Brian Gibbs
: 6' 1"; Senior
: 1B

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

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

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

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

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

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