STAFF REPORTS
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The Canisius baseball team split its weekend doubleheader with Kennesaw State, as the bats came alive in game one, powering the Griffs to a 15-7 win, before the Owls took game two, 5-2. With the split, Canisius is now 13-9 overall, while Kennesaw State is now 10-13.
In the first game, Mark McKenna had his best day as a Griff, rapping out four hits in six tries at the dish, and tallying three RBI in the win. All-told the Blue and Gold belted 15 hits in the victory.
Offense came early and often for the Blue and Gold, tallying runs in all but three innings.
With the game tied Canisius plated a run in the top of the third, and again in the fourth, crossing two runners to give the team a 5-2 lead, it never looked back from.
The greatest damage came in the top of the ninth, as the offense notched seven hits and eight runs to put distance between the two squads.
Aside from McKenna’s big day, three Griffs recorded two hits each, as Jake Lumley, Liam Wilson and Nick Capitano all had a pair of knocks.
Also breaking through with a trio of RBI was Jake Burlingame, who one hit, two runs and three RBI. Six other Griffs recorded one RBI apiece.
Andrew Kneussle started the game and improved to 2-0, as he worked 6.2 innings, allowed eight hits and three earned runs, and fanned two in the win.
Michael Ginther came on in relief and worked an inning and allowed a pair of hits and runs, while Andrew Sipowicz and Nolan Hunt worked a combined 1.1 inning of work to complete the victory.
In the second game the Griffs fell 5-2, as the team’s red-hot offense went cold in the back-half of the doubleheader.
The Griffs managed to tie things up at 2-2 in the top of the sixth, but a two-run bottom of the seventh helped give the Owls a lead it never relinquished.
J.P. Stevenson got the start and worked 6.2 frames and allowed four hits and four runs (three earned). The junior also struck out four batters as he dropped to 4-2 on the season.
The hits weren’t as plentiful for the Blue and Gold in the second game, rapping out only six in the loss.
Once again Mark McKenna led the way with three hits and one run in the losing effort. Christ Conley also belted a pair of knocks, as went 2-of-4 from the dish.
For the Owls Jeremy Howell and Griffin Helms both were responsible for a pair of RBI in the victory.
The Blue and Gold will conclude its series against Kennesaw State with a noon matchup against the Owls on Sunday.
