Canisius College Earns Spot in Championship Game of the 2009 MAAC Baseball Championship
MAAC Sports
Trenton, N.J. ? Second-seeded Canisius College (35-21) earned a spot in the 2009 MAAC Baseball Championship title game after defeating top-seeded Manhattan College (35-18), 3-2, in Game 5 of the championship at Waterfront Park.
Canisius scored one run in the top of the first inning, with senior second baseman Kevin Mailloux registering his 16th home run of the year.
The Griffs kicked off the top of the second with a home run by junior right fielder Shayne Willson to make it a 2-0 game.
The Jaspers made their mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as junior catcher Jamie Fitzgerald scored on a single to left center by sophomore left fielder Mark Onorati, and junior right fielder Kevin Nieto reached home plate on a sacrifice fly by sophomore centerfielder Mike McCann to make it a 2-2 contest.
The Griffs pulled ahead once again in the top of the fifth inning, as senior centerfielder Branson Joseph singled to center field, allowing Mailloux to score the eventual winning run for Canisius.
Canisius’ Shane Davis went the distance and improved to 9-2 with the win. Manhattan’s Matt Jordan finished the year at 4-5 on the mound.
Canisius will play third-seeded Marist College in Game 6 on Saturday, May 23, at 1:00 p.m. If the Griffs win Game 6, the seventh and deciding game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.