STAFF REPORTS
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A five run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be the difference in the contest, as the Canisius baseball team won the rubber match against Monmouth at the Demske Sports Complex, Sunday. With the win Canisius improves to 16-10 and 2-1 in MAAC play, while the Hawks drop to 7-16 overall and 4-2 in conference action.
With the Griffs down 10-6, the Blue and Gold offense grinded out a six hit, five run rally to take the lead.
Stephen Bennett started the big frame, as he singled up the middle, before a two-out single by Jake Lumley moved Bennett to second. The next batter, Joseph Preziuso started the scoring, doubling to right center, plating Bennett.
Justin Andrews relieved Hawks pitcher, Ben Hoffman to face, Ryan Stekl. The junior infielder entered the at bat having gone 3-of-4 at the dish and struck again, dropping a single into centerfield, and scoring Preziuso and Lumley, to cut the lead to 10-9.
Christ Conley kept the rally going with a two-out single to right field, moving Stekl to second. Cyrus Senior came on to pinch run, with Liam Wilson coming to the plate.
Wilson capped the scoring for the Griffs, singling to center before a fielding error by the Hawks allowed Stekl and Senior to come around and give Canisius the one-run lead.
Tyler Smith came on in the top of the ninth, following an induced groundout by Zachary Sloan, and shut down the final two batters, recording his fifth save of the season.
Andrew Sipowicz got the start and labored through 3.2 frames, as the hard-hitting Hawks, notched eight hits and eight runs (six earned), in the outing.
Sloan came on and worked 4.2 innings and allowed just three hits and two runs as he fanned six batters, before Smith closed the door.
While Wilson dealt the biggest blow with his two-RBI single, Stekl had the strongest day at the plate, going 4-of-5, with three RBI. Lumley, Preziuso and Wilson also had a pair of hits each in the win.
For Monmouth, Pete Papcun continued his strong series, as he went 2-of-5 at the dish but recorded four RBI in the contest, concluding the three-game set with 10.
The Griffs will attempt to play a pair of midweek contests coming up as the squad is scheduled to host St. Bonaventure at the Demske Sports Complex on Tuesday and take on Buffalo in Amherst on Wednesday.