The Canisius College baseball team suffered its first loss of the 2013 season, falling 9-1 to the University of Delaware on Sunday afternoon at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, N.C.

The Blue Hens (2-1) jumped on the board in the top of the first when Nick Ferdinand hit a three-run homer off Canisius starter Devon Stewart. The Griffs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first as sophomore Mike Krische led off with a double, sophomore Connor Panas was hit by a pitch and junior Jimmy Luppens walked. Senior Chris Gruarin scored Krische with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

Delaware added two more runs in the second on a two-RBI double from Jimmy Yezzo and pushed a run across in the third inning on an RBI groundout from Brock Niggebrugge to go up 6-1. The Blue Hens also scored three more runs in the sixth, all of them unearned as Canisius committed three errors in the game. 

Canisius (2-1) could never get its offense on track, hitting into three double plays in the last four innings. Panas led the Griffs' lineup, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances with three hits as well as being hit by a pitch. Luppens reached base three times (single, walk and hit by pitch).

Stewart took the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, in four innings or work while striking out five. Freshman Alex Godzak made his collegiate debut, allowing three unearned runs in four innings and striking out four. Junior Tyler Soucie also made his Canisius debut and threw a scoreless ninth inning.

Canisius completes its season-opening trip to the state of North Carolina with a single game at Appalachian State on Monday. First pitch in Boone, N.C. is set for 3 p.m.