Despite giving up runs in eight of nine innings on the day, the Canisius College baseball team used a nine-run fifth inning to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish and won 18-16 in the rubber match at Fairfield at Alumni Diamond on Sunday. The Golden Griffins improve to 30-16 overall and 13-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, holding a three-game lead over second-place Manhattan and Marist in the conference standings. Canisius also wins 30 games for the third consecutive season, the only three seasons in program history.

Junior Sean Jamieson matched his own school record from earlier in the season with eight RBI, going 5-for-6 with three runs scored and one of four Canisius home runs on the day. Junior Brian Burton was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, four RBI and his 12^th home run of the season. Junior Steve McQuail hit his third homer in two games, giving him 13 for the season. Senior Shayne Willson went 3-for-6 while senior Perry Silverman scored three runs, extending his consecutive games streak with a run scored to 19 games.

Canisius scored on an RBI double from Jamieson in the first. Fairfield (17-23, 7-8 MAAC) took a 4-1 lead with three in the first and one in the third. The Griffs then took the lead with a four-run fourth. Sophomore Jon VanRemmen drew a bases-loaded walk and senior Perry Silverman would reach on an error, scoring sophomore Brad Medici. The Griffs took advantage of the extra out as Jamieson had a two-RBI single to put Canisius up 5-4.

The Stags came right back with a four-run fourth inning off Canisius starter Mike Goemans, who allowed eight runs in four innings of work. Five Canisius pitchers threw on the day, with each hurler allowing at least one run.

The Griffs then exploded for nine runs in the fifth inning. McQuail led off with a homer and Willson hit a homer with one out. Jamieson had another two-RBI single later in the inning and McQuail drew the second bases-loaded walk of the day for Canisius to make it 10-8. Burton then hit a grand slam to right to put Canisius up by six runs.

The Stags scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, which Canisius got back with two in the seventh on a home run from Jamieson. Fairfield bounced right back with a three-run seventh, but the Griffs got two of those runs back in the eighth. Pinch hitter Will Chomicki drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Aaron Barley and eventually scored on an RBI double from Jamieson. Senior Ian Choy followed with an RBI single to put Canisius up 18-13.

The Stags had a leadoff homer in the eighth off Canisius reliever Andrew Van'tWout, and after a single, Willson came into the game. He gave up another run on a sacrifice fly as Canisius went to the ninth with an 18-15 lead. Fairfield would put runners on the corners after two leadoff singles to start the bottom of the ninth, but Willson retired the final three batters to close out the game.

Canisius returns to the field on Wednesday, when the Golden Griffins take on Niagara in a non-conference game at the Demske Sports Complex. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Game Notes: Jamieson also had eight RBI against Saint Peter's on April 10, recording 16 of his 44 RBI in two games this season... Canisius takes the series from Fairfield for the fifth consecutive season and has won 12 of 15 between the teams during that stretch... Canisius batted around twice in the game and has now batted around 27 times on the season... The nine runs scored in the fifth match the biggest output in an inning this season, as Canisius scored nine in the fifth inning at Saint Peter's in game one on April 10... Barley made his fourth start of the season and first since March 31, at Youngstown State... VanRemmen made his third start of the season and first at second base since March 24, against St. Bonaventure... Canisius scored 10 or more runs in a game for the 19^th time this season... Canisius has scored double-digit runs in 10 of 15 conference games this season... Jamieson was 5-for-5 with runners on base on the day, recording half of the team's hits with runners on base. The junior is now hitting a team-best .440 with runners in scoring position... Canisius was 3-for-5 with the bases loaded and are hitting .433 as a team with the bases loaded on the season... Burton's grand slam was the seventh of the season for Canisius.