Baseball 4/14/2009 11:15:00 PM Canisius College Athletics

Baseball Scores Five in Ninth to Defeat Buffalo

AMHERST, N.Y. ? A two-run double from sophomore Steve McQuail started a five-run ninth inning as the Canisius College baseball team defeated Buffalo 10-6 at Amherst Audubon Field on Tuesday. The Golden Griffins improve to 18-16 on the season and have won six of eight.

Junior Ian Choy was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two walks in the game, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Senior Branson Joseph and McQuail each had two hits while Kevin Mahoney was 1-for-2 with two runs scored to go along with three walks.

With the score tied 5-5 entering the ninth, Kevin Mailloux started the inning with a double to right center. Mahoney drew a walk to put runners at first and second, and Brian Gibbs advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk to Joseph loaded the bases, McQuail doubled down the left-field line to score Mailloux and Mahoney, making it 7-5. Perry Silverman followed with a two-RBI single through the hole on the left side, scoring Joseph and McQuail. After Paul Panik was hit by a pitch and a groundout from Connor Burke put runners at second and third, Choy closed out the scoring up the middle to make it 10-5.

Freshman Benson Merritt started and pitched into the sixth inning. Merritt allowed two runs on five hits, walked four and struck out three. Senior Ryan McGorman (3-3) picked up the win, allowing one run on two hits in 1.2 innings of relief.

The game stayed scoreless until the fifth when Canisius scored twice to take the early lead. Burke reached on a fielding error to the shortstop and moved to second on the throw. After Burke stole third, Choy turned on a pitch to double down the right-field line to score Burke. Mahoney then flicked a ball that landed just fair down the left-field line to score Choy and make it 2-0.

Joseph led off the sixth with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then stole third. After a walk to McQuail put runners at the corners, pinch hitter Shayne Willson doubled to left center to score Joseph, but McQuail, who had to hold up on the play to see if the ball would be caught, was thrown out at the plate. Pinch runner Alec Cabello scored on an RBI single from Burke that made the score 4-1.

After Buffalo scored another single run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2, the Griffs pushed the lead back to three runs on a sacrifice fly from Joseph in the seventh.

The Bulls tied the game in the eighth with a three-run inning off senior Matt Weber, who was in his third inning of relief. Buffalo had five consecutive batters reach with one out, including an RBI single from Bobby Pizzuto and a two-RBI single from Adam Skonieczki to tie the game at 5-5.

Canisius starts a stretch of four home games in five days with a nine-inning affair against St. Bonaventure on Wednesday. Game time at the Demske Sports Complex is set for 3 p.m.

Game Notes: Canisius has now won four of six from Buffalo... The Griffs move to two games above .500 for the first time this season... Mahoney matched his season high with the three walks... Choy had two walks in a game for the 12th time in his career... McQuail had two walks in a game for the second time in his career (March 25, 2008 against Delaware State)... Two of the Griffs' last five wins have come with the game tied after eight innings... Choy has 19 hits during his 10-game hitting streak... McGorman has been part of the decision or has a save in eight of his 11 appearances... McQuail has back-to-back multi-hit games for the fifth time this season... The game will air on Time Warner SportsNet (Channel 13 in Buffalo) on Wednesday at 7 pm and on Friday at 3 pm

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#17 Ian Choy: OF; 5' 9"; Junior

#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

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

#29 Paul Panik: C; 6' 0"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#17 Ian Choy
: 5' 9"; Junior
: OF

#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

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

#29 Paul Panik
: 6' 0"; Junior
: C

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