CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
The Canisius offense was on full display in the team’s 16-5 game one victory over Manhattan on Saturday, as the squad split its Saturday doubleheader, dropping the second game 2-0. With the split, Canisius improves to 30-19 overall and 13-7 in conference action, while Manhattan improved to 15-32 and 9-11 MAAC play.
GAME ONE
The Griffs bats set the tone for the contest with a six-run rally in the bottom of the first, as the squad belted 22 two hits in a 16-5 rout of Manhattan.
Canisius’ biggest inning came in the games’ first, as the Blue and Gold led off with three-straight extra base hits as Jake Lumley tallied a triple and Mark McKenna and Ryan Stekl both belted doubles.
Liam Wilson later singled to record an RBI, while Brett Migliore doubled to score Wilson and Christ Conley to make it 5-0. Jake Burlingame capped the first-frame scoring with an RBI single.
Every player the starting lineup recorded at least one hit for Canisius, with all-but three players in the lineup recording less than two.
Stekl had the best day for the Blue and Gold, going 4-of-6 from the dish, with three doubles and two RBI, while Wilson led the team with three RBI. The Griffs also launched three home runs in the contest with Wilson, Bennett and Burlingame all tallying round-trip knocks. Burlingame’s dinger was an inside the park homerun.
J.P. Stevenson started the game, and the leagues’ win leader received ample run support as, he improved to 9-3 this season. Alvin Vega and Nolan Hunt came on in relief as Vega worked one frame, and allowed one hit and a pair of runs, while Hunt limited the Jaspers to two hits and no runs in three innings of work, and picked up his first save the year.
With the win the Griffs recorded its eighth-straight 30-win season, and accomplished the feat for the ninth time in the last 10 years. To go along with the momentous win, Canisius head coach, Mike McRae earned his 400th victory as the leader of the Blue and Gold.
GAME TWO
For as loud as the bats were in game one, Manhattan starting pitcher Tom Cosgrove silenced them in the second game, holding the Griffs to just two hits, as Manhattan slipped past Canisius 2-0.
Manhattan manufactured runs in the top of the second and top of the fifth frames to take a lead it never relinquished. Meanwhile Cosgrove worked seven full and allowed just two hits and fanned 10 batters in the game.
The Griffs two hits came from Stekl and Migliore. Stekl recorded his fourth double of the day, while Migliore notched a base hit.
Canisius appeared to be threatening in the bottom of the sixth inning as Wilson drew a leadoff walk and was moved over to second by a Lumley sacrifice bunt. Stekl was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with just one out in the frame. However Cosgrove managed to strikeout the next two batters to escape the jam.
UP NEXT
Canisius will wrap up the series tomorrow at the Demske Sports Complex with the game scheduled for a noon start. Rainy weather may adjust the start time so stay tuned to GoGriffs.com for further announcement.
