Kentucky used a five-run fourth and four-run fifth to take control of the game and defeat the Canisius College baseball team 12-4 at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Wednesday night. The Golden Griffins fall to 6-14 on the season.

Kentucky scored once in the bottom of the first before the Griffs took a 2-1 lead by scoring two runs in the top of the third. Canisius loaded the bases as sophomore Kevin Whitehead and freshman Ralph Alloco each singled and senior Will Chomicki was hit by a pitch. Freshman Ryan Coppinger followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game and senior Sean Jamieson had a two-out single to give Canisius the 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats then scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth, including two-RBI singles from Taylor Black and Braden Kapetyn. Kentucky extended its lead to 10-2 after five innings with a solo homer from Mike Kaczmarek, RBI double from Matt Reida and two-RBI single from Kapetyn to take the eight-run lead.

Canisius came back with two runs in the sixth, taking advantage of a Kentucky error to load the bases with nobody out. Walter Wijas would get Whitehead to hit into a double play, which scored one run, and Alloco had an RBI single to make the score 10-4. The Wildcats added two runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Sophomore Scott Whitehead (0-2) allowed six runs on nine hits in four innings. Senior Josh Marshall threw two scoreless innings of relief while junior Ryan Fennell and freshman Garrett Cortright also pitched for Canisius.

Canisius, the 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season champion, starts conference play with a three-game series at Iona this weekend. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for noon.