Baseball 2/27/2010 4:07:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Baseball Takes Opener Against Long Island

The Canisius College baseball team took advantage of a fourth-inning error to score three unearned runs and then got a couple of double plays late in the game to pick up a 6-3 win against Long Island at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in Kannapolis, N.C. on Friday. The Golden Griffins improve to 4-1 on the season.

Senior Ian Choy led the Griffs with three hits on the day while sophomore Brad Medici had two hits and two RBIs and junior Brian Burton was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Senior Shayne Willson was 1-for-2 with two RBI.

Long Island took an early lead as the first two batters of the game singled off Canisius starter Shane Davis. After Davis got a strikeout of Chris Kievit, a walk loaded the bases. Davis then got the final two batters to keep it a 1-0 game. The Blackbirds also loaded the bases in the second inning, but Davis was able to get a grounder to short to end the inning as Long Island left six runners on base in the first three innings.

The Griffs broke open the game with a three-run fourth inning, taking advantage of a leadoff error that allowed Sean Jamieson to reach. Kenny Cedel retired the next two batters, but a double by Willson scored Jamieson to tie the game at 1-1. Burton followed with a double and Medici had an RBI single to put Canisius up 3-1.

The Griffs added two more in the sixth as Choy led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI double from Steve McQuail. After Chris Franzese recorded a pick off and a groundout, Burton doubled and scored on a two-out single from Medici to make the score 5-1.

The Griffs added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Willson.

The Blackbirds rallied for two runs in the eighth off reliever Ryan Fennell, who pitched a perfect seventh in relief of Davis. Greg DeSantis reached on a single and Tyler Jones walked to put runners at first and second. An error by Burton allowed DeSantis to score and Jones to get to third base. Derek Stupski followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the Canisius lead to 6-3. After Tito Marrero walked to put runners at first and second, senior Andrew Van'tWout came in and induced a double play to get out of the inning.

Van'tWout also got a double play after a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn his first collegiate save.

Canisius and Long Island will play a doubleheader on Saturday. The seven-inning games are set to begin at 12 p.m.

Notes: Canisius is 4-1 through five games, its best start since a 5-0 start to the 2008 season… Davis improves to 22-3 in 28 career starts… Canisius has won its last four games against Long Island after taking three games from the Blackbirds on the opening weekend of the 2008 season… Fennell has allowed three runs, two earned, in his last 9.1 innings of work… Medici extends his hitting streak to eight games… Jamieson and Choy have at least one hit in each of the first five games on the season.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#26 Ryan Fennell: P; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#4 Sean Jamieson: SS; 6' 0"; Junior

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

#2 Brad Medici: C; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#20 Andrew Van'tWout: P; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#26 Ryan Fennell
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: P

#4 Sean Jamieson
: 6' 0"; Junior
: SS

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

#2 Brad Medici
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: C

#20 Andrew Van'tWout
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: P

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