STAFF REPORTS
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A two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth in game one and a five-run rally in the home-half of the third inning in game two helped lead the host Monmouth Hawks to a doubleheader sweep of Canisius Sunday in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Monmouth won the first game 7-5 in eight innings before coming back to score an 8-2 victory in the nightcap. The Hawks moved to 18-24 overall and 9-5 in MAAC play, while the Golden Griffins slipped to 18-28 overall and 6-8 in league action.
In the first game, Canisius trailed 4-2 in the sixth, but the Blue and Gold plated three runs to take a 5-4 lead. In that scoring rally, sophomore Destiny Holani knocked in a pair with an RBI-double to the gap in left center that pushed teammates Cassie Ho and Denver Keller across the plate to tie the game. Moments later, senior Lindsey Silfer roped a double to straight-away center, while allowed pinch-runner Sue Vi to score from second. Canisius held that 5-4 lead into the seventh, but the Hawks tied the game at 5-5 and forced extra-innings after Monmouth’s Alex Holzman led off the inning with a solo home run to center.
In the eighth, Canisius went down in order, setting the stage for the Hawks to end the game. After a leadoff walk put a runner at first, Katie Baron ended the contest with a two-run, walk-off homer over the fence in center field. Junior Erika Mackie took the loss in the circle for Canisius after she allowed four runs on six hits in four innings of relief. She came into the game to replace starter Madi Weathers, who gave up three runs on five hits while fanning three in three innings of action.
Canisius tallied 10 hits in the loss, led by Silfer, who had four hits and drove in two RBI. Sophomore Lauren Castro had two hits and was credited with an RBI, while Keller also had two hits, including a double.
In the second game, Monmouth broke the game open with a five-run third inning to jump out to a 6-0 lead after three frames. Monmouth led 8-0 before Canisius got on the board with a pair of runs in the fifth thanks to a two-run double by Keller.
The Griffs pounded out 11 hits and left a season-high 11 runners on base in the game two loss. Silfer and Keller each had two hits for the Blue and Gold, as did senior Samantha Sharkey and junior Moriah Harris. Castro had a double in the loss for Canisius, her MAAC-leading 17th two-base hit of the season.
Canisius will return home Wednesday when the team hosts a non-league twinbill against St. Bonaventure. First pitch at the Demske Sports Complex is set for 2 p.m.
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