The
Canisius College baseball team lost both games of a seven-inning doubleheader
at West Virginia University on Saturday. The Golden Griffins lost 7-6 and 4-3
to fall to 5-12 overall on the season.
In
the first game, Canisius built a 6-2 lead, scoring three runs in the second and
fifth innings while West Virginia scored single runs in the second and third
innings. The Griffs did all of their damage in the second after the
first two batters recorded outs. Senior Andrew
Russo and sophomore Chris Gruarin
each drew two-out walks while freshman Ralph
Alloco sent a single up the middle to score Russo and put Canisius on the
scoreboard. After senior an infield single from Will Chomicki scored Gruarin, freshman Ryan Coppinger also singled to score Alloco and give Canisius the
3-0 lead.
Chomicki
was hit by a pitch to start the fifth inning and Coppinger reached on a
fielder's choice to put runners at first and second. Senior Brian Burton drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Junior Drew Pettit
then singled up the middle to score Chomicki and Coppinger. Russo then doubled
with two outs to score Burton, but Pettit was thrown out at the plate to keep
the score at 6-2.
West
Virginia rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra
innings, scoring the four runs on just two hits and taking advantage of two
Canisius walks, a hit by pitch and Golden Griffin error. Brady Wilson tied the
game with a two-out, two-RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. The Mountaineers
would win the game in the bottom of the eighth as Matt Malloy's one-out, RBI
single proved to be the gamewinner.
Redshirt
senior Shane Davis went six innings,
allowing two runs on three hits while walking three and striking out three.
Redshirt sophomore Nathan Linseman
(1-1) took the loss by allowing a run on three hits in 0.2 innings.
In
the second game, Canisius took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning as Burton
drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single
from Pettit. The Mountaineers came back with three runs in the bottom of the
inning and then added a run in the third to take a 4-1 lead.
Canisius
scored an unearned run in the fourth as senior Sean Jamieson reached on an error and scored on a double from
Burton. Pettit followed with a single and moved to second on an error to put
two runners in scoring position. The Griffs couldn't get them out as Andy Berry
struck out the next two Canisius batters to end the inning. The Griffs scored
once in the seventh as sophomore Kevin
Whitehead drew a one-out walk and Alloco came into the game as a pinch
runner. A two-out double from Chomicki would score Alloco, but the Griffs
couldn't score the game-tying run.
Redshirt
senior Chris Cox (0-4) took the
complete-game loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits while
striking out five.
Canisius
and West Virginia conclude the four-game series on Sunday, with first pitch set
for 12 p.m.
