A three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Canisius College baseball team lost 6-2 at the University of Tennessee at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Saturday. The Golden Griffins drop their second straight game to fall to 6-2 on the season.
Tennessee had the first three batters reach, on a walk, single and hit by pitch, to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first. Canisius starter Chris Cox induced a double play and then got another groundout to limit Tennessee to get one run.
Canisius tied the game in the fourth when senior Sean Jamieson led off with a single and senior Brian Butron walked to get runners at first and second with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Chris Gruarin advanced each runner 90 feet, an RBI groundout from freshman Shane Zimmer scored Jamieson to tie the game at 1-1.
The Volunteers (4-1) scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth, with four straight batters reaching base with one out. Andrew Toles had an RBI double and Khayyan Norfork had a two-RBI single to give Tennessee the 4-1 lead.
Canisius got one run back in the sixth when Burton doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single from Zimmer. The Griffs never threatened offensively the rest of the game as Tennessee added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Cox (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs and four walks in five innings while striking out four. Senior Josh Marshall threw a scoreless 0.2 innings while sophomore Jordan Cave allowed two runs in 2.1 innings of relief. Jon Reed (1-0) got the win for Tennessee, allowing two runs in six innings of work.
Canisius and Tennessee conclude the three-game series on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Game Notes: Freshman Ralph Alloco made his first start for the Griffs, playing second base and batting eighth... Sophomore Frank Polino made the second start of his career, serving as the designated hitter and batting second... Burton extended his hitting streak to four games... Jamieson has two hits in two of the last three games... Zimmer had the first multi-hit game of his career and is leading the team in hitting at .312 on the young season.
