College Baseball
Canisius College 6, Rider University 5
Canisius College 8, Rider University 7
BUFFALO, NY-The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Canisius Saturday.
In the second game, a seven inning contest, Rider (7-18, 2-3 MAAC) scored five runs in the seventh inning on five hits, the biggest hits a three-run double by freshman Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) and a two-run single by junior Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.), but it was not enough. "The comeback doesn't mean much when the final out is made and you are still trailing," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
Parsons and Lindsay each had two hits in the second game. "Those two knocked in five runs in the one inning," Davis said. "'Parsons cleared the bases. They had big hits in that inning, it was just a little too late."
Rider out-hit Canisius 10-5, the seventh time this season that the Broncs lost a game in which they out-hit their opponent.
Canisius (15-13, 4-1 MAAC) scored three runs in the fourth inning on one hit, two sacrifices (fly, bunt) and two Rider errors to take as 5-2 lead. The Golden Griffins broke it open with three more runs in the fifth inning on a walk, an error and a triple to take an 8-2 lead.
The Broncs tied the score at 2-2 in the fourth inning when junior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) reached base on an error, Lindsay doubled, freshman Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) had an RBI single and sophomore Jerry Mulderig (Langhorne, PA/Council Rock South) collected an RBI on a fielder's choice.
Wayman and Fazio each had three hits on the day, while Mulderig had two hits and three RBI in the doubleheader.
Canisius scored in the second inning on a walk, a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt and a single and took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a single and triple with two outs.
Rider freshman Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) started and pitched four innings, allowing just two earned runs but walked six.
Rider walked nine Griffs and committed three errors in the second game. "That explains a lot of it," Davis said. "You can't do that and win."
Rider senior Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) had two hits in the second game.
In the first game Canisius scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off of three Bronc pitchers on four hits and three walks to take a 6-5 lead. "We should have won that ballgame," Davis said.
Rider sophomore Mike Murphy (Hamilton/Peddie) pitched seven innings and allowed just one run while striking out six. "Murph pitched great," Davis said. "He deserved better."
Mulderig collected his second RBI single of the game in the top of the eighth inning to give Rider a 3-1 lead. Graduate student Ryan Murphy (Yardville, N.J./Steinert) and freshman Eric Strano (Robbinsville) followed with RBI singles for a 5-1 lead. "When you have a four run lead with six outs to go you have to finish that," Davis said. "We didn't do it."
Canisius cut the lead to 2-1 in the sixth inning with a run on three singles.
The Broncs took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a hit batter, a walk, an RBI single by Mulderig and an error.
Rider won two of the three games in the series last year but Canisius ended Rider's 2011 season in the MAAC playoffs.
Rider and Canisius have now met 48 times since the series began in 1983 with Rider winning 28.
The Broncs have won just one of the last eight games played in Buffalo.
Rider and Canisius will play the third game of the series Sunday at 12 noon. "Our backs are against the wall a little bit," Davis said. "We have to figure out how to play better."
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