Courtesy of GoGriffs.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Canisius baseball team salvaged its weekend with a 13-5 victory over Quinnipiac on Sunday, avoiding the series sweep with a win at the Demske Sports Complex on senior day. With the win the Blue and Gold improve to 27-25 and 13-8 in MAAC play while Quinnipiac drops to 20-29 and 9-12 in conference action.
The Griffs plated five runs in the first two innings, chasing the Bobcats starter Alex Vargas, who worked just one inning, as he took the loss to drop to 1-2 this season.
The Blue and Gold shook off starter problems of its own as J.P. Stevenson, who is still coming back from a mid-season injury, retired just one batter and gave up four hits and two runs in the no-decision.
The Griffs quickly turned Mike Elwood who came through with a senior day gem, working 5.2 innings, allowing just four hits and two runs, both unearned as he earns his fourth win of the season.
Zach Sloan pitched a scoreless seventh inning, giving way to Iannick Remillard who pitched two innings and fanned four, while giving up two walks and a run.
The senior closer made history once again, matching the MAAC record for saves in a season, set back in 2011 by Tyler Smith from Rider. One more would give the Valleyfield, Quebec native the record outright.
Offensively the Griffs scored early and late, notching five runs in the first two innings and six in the eighth.
The middle part of the lineup teed off on the Bobcats with the three batters recording 10 of the Griffs 17 hits. Liam Wilson had the biggest day for the Griffs, going 4-of-6 from the dish, and bringing home two runs in the win. Both Jake Lumley and Anthony Massicci also had strong days, with a trio of hits each. Lumly also notched a pair of RBI in the victory.
Canisius shook off first inning troubles in the home half of the frame, showing strong plate discipline against a Quinnipiac pitcher who had trouble finding the strike zone. Following two outs and a single for Canisius, Vargas walked five-straight batters and ran a pitch into Joseph Preziuso as the Blue and Gold stake claim to the 4-2 lead.
Canisius added to its 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth Wilson doubled to center field to drive in Massicci and Lumly, extending the advantage to 7-2.
With the score 7-4, the Griffs dealt the big blow in the bottom of the eighth, registering a six run, five hit rally, capped by a Lumley double to left center field, which drove in Tim Kensinger and Preziuso.
Remillard, battled through a mistake-plagued ninth to record his 27th career save and his 15th of the year, as the Griffs defeated Quinnipiac 13-4.
Aside form the festiivities on the field, the Blue and Gold honored five members of the senior class which have impacted this program in a positive way. This years seniors are responsible for 176 wins, and each were partly responsiblefor Canisius’ MAAC championships in 2013 and 2015. Aaron Casper, Elwood, Alex Godzak, Massicci and Remillard were all recognized and celebrated in a ceremony prior to the start of the game.
Canisius now awaits its final series of the year, as it readies to take on Niagara in Lewiston, N.Y. on Thursday and Friday. The Griffs will face the Purple Eagles with a single game on Thursday at 12 p.m., with a doubleheader slated for Friday beginning at noon.
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