Canisius scores early and often in rout of Penguins
Canisius 11
YSU 3
Next: YSU vs. Cleveland State, Friday, 3 p.m., Eastwood Field
Staff report
BUFFALO
Jose Torralba had three hits and Chris Gruarin drove in three runs to lead Canisius past Youngstown State, 11-3, in a non-conference baseball game in Wednesday.
The Penguins (8-27) lost their seventh straight game and have been on the losing end in nine of their last 11 games.
They managed just seven hits on Wednesday — two each by Joe Iacobucci, Craig Goubeaux and Neil Schroth — and one by Dan Hurlimann.
Two hits, both doubles, came in the eighth inning against Canisius, when Youngstown State scored all of its runs.
Chris Mitko struck out but reached first on a passed ball. After Greg Dissinger struck out, Jeremy Banks walked. Iacobucci and Goubeaux followed with back-to-back doubles.
Blake Aquadro (0-6) lasted just 21/3 innings for the Penguins. He allowed six runs, all earned, and six hits, and his troubles were compounded by five walks.
Erik Okleson went 42/3 innings in relief, allowing five runs — all earned — and 10 hits. Jonathon Crist finished up with a scoreless inning.
Canisius used seven pitchers, including Alex Tufts (3-0) who came on in the second inning and tossed three shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one hit batsman.
Five more pitchers went one inning apiece to finish the game.
The Golden Griffins (17-18) scored a run in the first inning and broke the game open with a five-run rally in the third.
Canisius added another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth and seventh innings.