CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Fairfield senior Drew Blake’s ball in the top of the 11th inning that was mishandled by a Canisius fielder allowing a run to score was all the visiting Stags needed to knock off the Golden Griffins 1-0 in 11 innings.
In a game that was scheduled to only go seven innings, both pitchers went that distance and some as Fairfield junior right-hander John Signore went eight full innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 14. Senior David Sacco relived Signore, going the final three innings of three hit ball to earn the victory.
For Canisius, lefty J.P. Stevenson lasted 7.2 innings, surrendering three hits and fanning six. Senior Tyler Smithwent the next 3.1 innings and was saddled with the loss, as he surrendered the game’s only run, while sitting down three Stags via strikeout.
Canisius redshirt senior Liam Wilson had the games’ only multiple hits as he tallied three of the Griffs five total hits.
GAME TWO
Three different Golden Griffins tallied two hits apiece en route to the 3-2 win in game two at the Demske Sports Complex Sunday afternoon. With the victory, the Griffs moved to 13-7 overall and 2-1 in MAAC play, as Fairfield drops to 6-13 and 1-2 in conference.
Junior Conner Morro got the action started in the second inning for Canisius as he roped a ball into the right center field gap, allowing senior Ryan Stekl to scamper home for the games’ first run. Sophomore Stephen Bennettfollowed suit shortly after as he singled through the left side to bring Morro in to score.
A Wilson ground-rule double in the third, forcing in sophomore Jake Burlingame, gave Canisius the early 3-0 advantage.
Fairfield battled back in the later innings as they pushed across a run in the seventh on a single and a sacrifice fly in the eighth to cut the lead to one at 3-2 heading into the ninth inning.
After redshirt junior left-hander Micheal Ginther walked the lead-off batter, sophomore Will Frank came on to shut the door as he forced a ground out, strike out and pop out to send the ballgame, picking up his second save of the 2018 campaign.
GAME NOTES
• With his four hits Sunday, Wilson has reached base in all 19 games this season and 22 times in his last 23 games dating back to last year.
• With his two games played on Sunday, Stekl passed Conner Burke (’09) for ninth place in most games played in school history with 194.
• With his seven at-bats on Sunday, Stekl also moves in fourth place in most at-bats in program history with 737.
UP NEXT
Canisius travels to West Long Branch, N.J., to face Monmouth in a three-game series Mar. 30-31. Game times are 3:00 p.m. on Friday and 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.