STAFF REPORTS
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NIAGARA FALLS — In what could have been a dress rehersal for the 2017 MAAC baseball tournament, the Canisius Baseball team blanked rival Niagara, 8-0, at Sal Maglie Field on Wednesday. The Griffs scored all eight runs in the final four innings to tally the victory in the non-conference mid-week contest. With the win Canisius is now 24-16, while Niagara is 18-17.
Mark McKenna ad Tim Kensinger provided much of the offense for Canisius, as McKenna belted four hits, going 4-of-5 at the dish, while Kensinger notched four RBI in the contest.
Liam Wilson also had a strong game, rapping a pair of hits and pair of RBI to end his day.
Jared Kennedy got the start and worked a pair of innings, holding Niagara hitless and scoreless in the no-decision. Nolan Hunt came on in relief and pitched four innings, and allowed just one hit and fanned three, as he improved to 1-2 this season.
Alvin Vega and Kyle Warner also saw time in the contest, while Tyler Smith came on and retired the final two batters of the game, one by way of the strikeout.
Canisius got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, as Kensinger drove in Wilson on a fielders choice, to make it 1-0.
The game was broken open in the top of the seventh inning, as the Blue and Gold recorded a three-hit, four-run rally, with a McKenna RBI single, a Wilson RBI double, and a two-run single by Kensinger doing the damage.
The Griffs tacked on three runs in the top of the eighth to cap the scoring.
Canisius returns to conference action this weekend, facing Quinnipiac in Hamden, Conn., with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon, and the finale scheduled for Sunday at noon.
