CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
LEWISTON — Redshirt senior Trevor McCauley’s walk-off, three-run triple pushes Niagara past Canisius, 3-2 Tuesday afternoon at Bobo Field in Lewiston, N.Y. in non-conference action. With the defeat, Canisius sits at 24-17 overall as Niagara improves to 16-22.
No runs were scored until the top of the eighth inning when senior Liam Wilson got the Golden Griffins on the board with a double to center field to score sophomore Jake Burlingame, who had walked. Fellow senior Ryan Stekl followed up next with a single back up the middle to plate Wilson, giving the Griffs the 2-0 advantage.
The score held until the bottom of the ninth then the Purple Eagles rallied for the three runs on two hits and one error.
Junior right-hander Andrew Kneussle received the start for the Blue and Gold lasting a career-high seven innings, scattering five hits and not surrendering a run while striking out six. Junior southpaw Nolan Huntwas saddled with the loss in his 1.2 innings of work in which he allowed the three Niagara runs (zero earned) and striking out two.
For Niagara, junior righty Tyler Howard went four innings of one hit ball while fanning five batters before making way for freshman Matt Grace for the next four frame who surrendering two runs on two hits while walking two as well. Junior Jackson Jones was the pitcher of record, earning the win, as he threw the top of ninth striking out three Griffs.
GAME NOTES
• With his one hit on Wednesday, Wilson has reached base in all 40 games that he’s played in this season and 41 times in his last 42 games dating back to last year.
• Kneussle’s seven innings pitched was the longest outing of his career and his six strikeouts ties a career-high as well.
• Stekl has played in 214 career games in a Canisius uniform, moving him into third all-time in school history past Ian Choy (’10) and Branson Joseph (’09).
UP NEXT
Canisius returns back to Niagara Wednesday to finish off the season series with its Battle of the Bridge rival. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
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