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With the MAAC tournament just over a month away, the Canisius baseball team continued to do its part to make sure it’s a part of the action, tallying a Saturday sweep of Rider, 4-3 and 7-0, at the Demske Sports Complex. With the pair of wins Canisius improves to 6-5 in the MAAC, and 22-15 overall, while Rider drops to 16-18-1 and 8-6 in conference action.
Game #1: Canisius 4, Rider 3
Despite falling behind 2-0 in the opening game of the series, Canisius used a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, to defeat Rider 4-3 in game one.
Tim Kensinger brought the Griffs to within in one in the bottom of the sixth, with a single up the middle, while Ryan Stekl dealt the biggest blow of the game, tripling to right-center field and bringing in a pair of runs to give Canisius a lead it never relinquished.
J.P. Stevenson got the start and improved to 6-3, as he worked 6.1 frames, allowed five hits, and three runs. The junior hurler fanned five Broncs in his outing. Andrew Sipowicz came on and retired one batter, while Michael Ginther came on closed out the bottom of the seventh.
Tyler Smith earned his sixth save of the season as he came on for two-innings, allowing one hit and holding Rider scoreless.
The top of the order did the damage for Canisius, with Jake Lumley leading off and notching two hits, Kensinger finishing the game with three, and Stekl finishing the game with a pair.
Game #2: Canisius 7, Rider 0
The Griffs went into the bottom of the sixth with a 3-0 lead before breaking the game open thanks to a four-run rally, to put the game out of reach, as the squad completed the sweep with a 7-0 win.
Nick Captiano had one his best games as a Griff, as he tallied a pair of hits, including a double, to go along with a run and an RBI.
Liam Wilson finished the day, 2-for-4 at the dish, while Stekl was 2-of-3. Mark McKenna also had a strong day, rapping a pair of hits in the outing.
Andrew Kneussle posted an impressive outing, working six frames and yielding just five hits, coupled with a pair of strikeouts as he improved to 3-2 on the year. Ginther came on in the seventh to close the game out, working the final frame, allowing hit but striking out the final two batters.
The Canisius pitching staff held the Broncs to just six hits in the game, while the Blue and Gold recorded 11.
Canisius has one final game against Rider, looking to take the series with a three-game sweep. Following its weekend series the Griffs face Youngstown State at the Demske Sports Complex on Tuesday, before taking on Niagara at Sal Maglie Stadium on Wednesday.
