Canisius junior Paige Freiberger's two-run homer with two outs in the sixth inning helped lift the Golden Griffins to a 3-2 win over Miami (Ohio) on the first day of the Miami (Ohio) Invitational in Oxford, Ohio. Canisius (11-9) went 1-1 Saturday after the team dropped its first contest to Toledo by a score of 5-4.
In the nightcap, the Blue and Gold to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore Lizzy Gatto. Junior Lauren Hope got the frame started with a leadoff triple, and then crossed the plate on Gatto's sac fly. The Griffs would hold the lead until the top of the fifth when Miami scored a solo run to knot the game at 1-1, and the RedHawks would eventually take a 2-1 advantage in the top of the sixth when sophomore designated player Casey Drees knocked in Sarah Billstrom with a base hit through the left side of the infield.
In the sixth, losing pitcher Jessica Simpson got the first two out of the inning before senior Michelle Fridey reached with her first hit of the contest, a base knock through the right side of the infield. Freiberger followed Fridey and put the Blue and Gold in the lead for good with her two-run shot over the fence in centerfield, the junior's team-leading fifth home run of the season.
In the seventh, sophomore hurler Caroline Main came on in relief of freshman starter Amanda Baun and gave up one hit to earn her first save of the season. Baun was awarded the win for the Griffs after she scattered eight hits over six innings, where she gave up two runs and struck out six.
In the first game of the day, Canisius fell to Toledo (5-17) after the Blue and Gold left 10 runners on base. The Griffs got the scoring started in the top of the fourth on an RBI-single by sophomore Katie Lancellotti, and the team pushed its margin to 2-0 moments later on an RBI-double by junior Kerry Ulmer. The Griffs' third run crossed the plate in the frame when freshman pinch runner Chloe Contreras stepped on the plate after an error by the Rockets' infield.
Toledo answered in the bottom of that frame with two runs after freshman Lindsey Tobias singled up the middle with two runners on. Canisius pushed its cushion back to two runs at 4-2 in the top of the fifth on an RBI-single by junior Emily Helbig, but the Rockets would score three times in the bottom of the seventh, capped by a fielder's choice with one out in the inning. With the bases loaded, sophomore Brooke Gates was able to beat the throw home on a ground ball in the infield to score the winning run.
Main took the loss for Canisius after she gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits while striking out two and walking one in six innings of work. Eight Canisius players had a hit in the loss to Toledo, with Lancellotti, Ulmer, Helbig and Lauren Falzone all knocking in a run.
Canisius will close out its weekend stay in Ohio on Sunday when the team plays Robert Morris and Michigan State at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational. The Griffs will start the day against the Colonials of Robert Morris at 10 a.m., before taking on Michigan State at 12 p.m.
