CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
OLEAN, N.Y. — The Golden Griffins tagged St. Bonaventure for 15 hits, including three home runs, en route to a 15-8 victory in game one Sunday afternoon at Fred Handler Park in Olean, N.Y.
Senior Gage Lanning kicked-off the scoring in the top of the first for Canisius as he drove in redshirt seniorChrist Conley with a single to left center putting the Griffs up 1-0.
St. Bonaventure pushed a run across in the third on a sacrifice fly and the Blue and Gold manufactured a run in the firth on an RBI single by redshirt sophomore William Krull to plate senior Ryan Stekl, making the score 2-1 in favor of Canisius.
In the sixth, the Griffs four runs on three hits capped off by a Lanning three-run home run to extending the advantage to 6-1.
The Blue and Gold continued the barrage in the seventh with six more tallies on five hits and one error once again topped off with a home run, this time a two-run shot by Conley to push the lead up to 12-1.
The Bonnies didn’t go away without a fight as they chipped away with six runs in the home half of the eighth on five hits, including a four-bagger of their own of the three-run variety off the bat of freshman Tyler Kelder to get within five at 12-7.
Krull’s joined the home run parade as they launched a three RBI shot to left field scoring to put the lead back up to eight at 15-7.
The home squad tallied a run in the bottom of the ninth on a single, but that was it, as Canisius closed out the 15-8 game one win.
Junior right-hander Andrew Sipowicz received the ball in game one, picking up the win in five innings of work, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six.
For St. Bonaventure, sophomore righty Casey Vincent was saddled with the loss as he went five innings of six hit ball, surrendering two runs (one earned), striking out three and walking four.
GAME TWO
An RBI groundout by junior Conner Morro in the top of the ninth pushes Canisius to the 6-5 game two win over St. Bonaventure. With the doubleheader sweep, the Griffs now totes a 27-18 overall mark as the Bonnies drop to 9-28 on the 2018 campaign.
St. Bonaventure was the first one on the board on a two-run by sophomore Casey Vincent in the bottom of the second to take the early 2-0 advantage.
The Griffs’ answer came in the fourth by way of an infield single by sophomore Brett Migliore, allowing sophomoreStephen Bennett to cross, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
A sacrifice fly by Bonnies redshirt junior Ryan O’Conner in the home half of the fourth brought the lead back up to two runs at 3-1.
In the fifth frame, a single by Canisius senior Liam Wilson and a single by Vincent of St. Bonaventure put the score at 4-2, still in favor of the home squad.
Canisius rallied in the seventh, scoring three runs, sparked by a RBI groundout by Wilson followed by a passed ball allowing junior Canice Ejoh to race home and capped off by a Lanning single, pushing the Griffs to the 5-4 lead.
St. Bonaventure tied the ballgame in bottom of the seventh as Kelder doubled to left center, bringing the score to five-all.
The Blue and Gold took the lead for good in the top of ninth as junior Conner Morro grounded into a double play, however, Wilson trotted home to score the sixth, and deciding, run.
Senior right-hander Charlie Sobieraski went the first four innings on the mound for Canisius, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four. Junior Andrew Kneussle bridged the next four frames before handing the ball off to senior Tyler Smith who picked up the win in two innings on the hill.
Redshirt sophomore Brian Pulli toed the rubber for the Bonnies surrendering two runs on six hits in five innings. Freshman Braydon Nelson threw the next two innings followed by senior Roman Wild to close out the game.
GAME NOTES
• Wilson failed to reach base in game one Sunday, snapping his 41-consecutive game on-base streak that spanned the entire season.
• Stekl has now played in 218 career games for the Blue and Gold, moving him into first all-time in program history, passing Kevin Mahoney (’09).
• The 15 hits in game one gives the team 10-or more hits in 22 contests this year.
• The 15 runs in game one gives the team 10-or more runs in 13 contests this year.
UP NEXT
Canisius heads to the Fishkill, N.Y., May 12-13 to battle with Manhattan. First pitch on Saturday is set for noon with the Sunday’s doubleheader beginning at noon as well.
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