The Canisius baseball team continued its strong start to the season on Saturday, earning a double-header split with Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. In the first game Canisius won 9-5, while the Blue and Gold fell in the second game, 6-5.
In game No. 1, the Griffs scored early and often in the contest, plating four runs in the first four innings of the contest. Canisius led 4-0 in the top of the fourth, however the Runnin’ Bulldogs knotted things up scoring runs in the bottom of the fourth, sixth and seventh.
With the score tied at 4-4, the Blue and Gold broke through in the top of the eighth, as Ryan Stekl doubled home Jake Lumley and Liam Wilson, to give the Griffs the lead back.
The squad then added a pair in the top of the ninth to close out the game, with the 9-5 win.
Stekl and Christ Conley both recorded strong outings, as the duo each posted a pair of RBI. Conley rapped out three hits including a homerun, while Stekl belted a pair of hits.
J.P. Stevenson got the start for Canisius and worked six innings and allowed five hits, three runs (one earned) and fanned a pair, as he improved to 1-0. Jared Kennedy came on in relief and worked three innings, and allowed two hits and two earned runs.
In the second game of the twin bill, Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third, before adding to it later in the game to make it 5-2 at the end of the home-half of the fourth.
The Griffs inched closer, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, as Stephen Bennett cashed in on a two-on situation, as he flied out to centerfield to score John Novenche.
Wilson came up next and singled and scored Joseph Preziuso to make it 5-4 at the end of the frame.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs scored again in the home half of the sixth to increase its lead to 6-4 before the Griffs tried for its second, 9th inning comeback of the series.
Conley once again did the damage, singling through the left side to score Wilson, but that’s as close as the Griffs got, as Gardner-Webb won 6-5.
Lumley led the offense in the contest, rapping out three hits, while Stekl and Conley both recorded a pair.
Nolan Hunt got the start and worked four innings and allowed six hits and five earned runs in the loss. Will Frank came on in relief and worked four innings and allowed just two hits and one run while fanning four in the outing.
Canisius will be back in action for one final game against Gardner-Webb, when the teams play in Boiling Springs, N.C. The game is slated for noon.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT