Junior Megan Giese tossed a complete-game shutout in Canisius’ 2-0 win over Houston Christian Friday afternoon before Ohio State shutout the Golden Griffins, 8-0, Friday evening in collegiate softball action on the opening day of the Beach Chicken Brawl in Conway, S.C.
Game 1 Recap
A two-run third was the only offense needed for Giese, who tossed her ninth career complete-game shutout.
Sophomore Saige Alfaro opened the frame with a leadoff double before advancing to third on junior Christie McGee-Ross’ infield single.
With one out in the inning, junior Gianna Fazzolari slugged an 0-1 pitch from Houston Christian starter Ronni Grofman to right field, scoring Alfaro and McGee-Ross.
Giese yielded just four base runners in the contest, allowing a free pass in the third and fifth innings.
Taking a no-hitter into the final frame, Giese retired the first two batters via a groundout and fly out.
Jasie Roberts kept Giese from throwing her third career no-no, connecting on the first pitch with a single through the left side.
The Huskies looked to mount a comeback as Mackenzie Morris followed suit with a single of her own, but Giese sat down Autumn Sydlik for her fifth strikeout to secure the complete-game shutout.
With the win, Giese moves to 4-3 on the season while Grofman evens her record to 2-2.
Game 2 Recap
Ohio State’s Emily Ruck silenced the Canisius batters throughout the five innings, not allowing a single base runner while fanning 12 of the 15 batters she faced.
The Buckeyes hit for the cycle as a team, scoring four runs over the first three innings of the contest on a triple, single and two doubles.
Ohio State capped off the cycle in the fifth when Kami Kortokrax led off the frame with a solo shot to put her squad up 5-0.
With runners on the corner and one out, Kaitlyn Farley singled through the right side to plate both runs before scoring the eighth run for the mercy-rule walk-off on Tegan Cortelletti’s single to left center.
Sophomore Toria Kover made the start in the circle for Canisius, giving up four runs in three innings of work.
Game Notes
• Alfaro has reached base safely in the first inning in nine of the 14 games this season.
• In 36 career starts, Giese has 23 complete games and nine complete-game shutouts.
• Alfaro recorded her 18th career multi-hit game against Houston Christian and the second multi extra-base hit performance of her career.
• Freshman Rylee Alfaro has thrown over 1.0 innings in all four of her appearances in the circle this season.
Up Next
• Canisius is set to face Ohio State at 12:30 p.m. and Beach Chicken Brawl host Coastal Carolina at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Conway, S.C. The contest against the Chanticleers is slated to be broadcasted on ESPN+.
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