The Canisius College baseball team struggled to score runs and dropped a doubleheader to the University of Delaware at Bob Hannah Stadium on Saturday. Canisius dropped the opener 3-2 in eight innings and lost the nightcap 5-4. Canisius is now 16-11 on the season.

In the first game, Delaware (13-11) got on the board in the bottom of the first on a one-out RBI single from Josh Dean. The Griffs tied the game in the top of the third when Paul Panik singled up the middle with two outs and after a double from Perry Silverman, a walk to Sean Jamieson loaded the bases. Panik would score on a wild pitch to make it 1-1.

The Blue Hens came right back and grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third when Dean's two-out, RBI triple scored an unearned run for Delaware. The Griffs tied the game in the seventh as Shayne Willson led off with a double and walks to Drew Pettit and Jarred Flock loaded the bases with one out. After Willson was forced out at the plate on a fielder's choice, Silverman was hit by a pitch to force home the tying run and make the score 2-2.

Canisius had a chance to score the go-ahead run in the eighth when Steve McQuail doubled with one out, but the Griffs couldn't get a hit to bring home McQuail. Delaware scored an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth as Matt Harden reached on a one-out walk. Dave Anderson reached on a throwing error, putting runners at second and third. Hank Yates had the game-winning single through the left side to score Harden.

Senior Mike Goemans (2-2) went the distance for the Griffs, allowing three runs, one earned, in his 7.1 innings of work.

In the second game, Delaware (13-11) scored three runs in the bottom of the first off Canisus starter Chris Cox. Carlos Alonso led off with a single, Pat Dameron was hit by a pitch and Ryan Cuneo hit a three-run home run to right. The Blue Hens added a run in the second when Alson hit a leadoff homer to left, making the score 4-0.

The Griffs made a late rally in the second game, as Canisius cut the Delaware lead in half in the sixth when Jamieson singled with one out and McQuail homered to left, making the score 4-2. The Blue Hens added what proved to be an important insurance run in the sixth on a two-out, RBI triple from Alonso.

In the seventh, Brian Burton led off with a double and eventually scored on an RBI single from Pettit. However, Delaware induced a double play grounder from Brad Medici to get out of the inning. The Griffs made it a one-run game in the eighth, when Silverman reached on an error, moved to second on a groundout and eventually scored on an error after a single from McQuail. Willson drew a walk and McQuail stole third to put runners at the corners, but Willson was picked off to end the rally. The Griffs got a one-out single from Pettit in the ninth, but the sophomore was thrown out trying to lengthen it to a double.

Cox (1-2) took the loss for the Griffs in his second consecutive start and third start of the season. The senior allowed five runs, on seven hits, walked two and struck out five in six innings of work. Junior Josh Marshall and sophomore Ryan Fennell threw two scoreless innings of relief.

Canisius concludes its trip to the mid-Atlantic on Monday, when the Golden Griffins play at Maryland Eastern Shore. Game time at UMES is set for 3 p.m.