The Canisius College softball team dropped a doubleheader at Fairfield University on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Griffins lost 3-0 and 4-3 to fall to 15-15 overall and 3-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Sarah Mince would get both wins on the day and threw a complete-game shutout for Fairfield (20-14, 5-1) in the opener. Mince allowed three hits and walked six while striking out 11. The Stags scored twice in the bottom of the first off Canisius starter junior Caroline Main. The Stags loaded the bases with nobody out and then got an RBI single from Kristina Lingo and an RBI groundout from Rae Ball to take the 2-0 lead. Fairfield would add a third run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Alli Wigand.
Canisius had its best scoring opportunity in the fourth as Lizzy Gatto led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. However the Griffs would strand Gatto at third as Mince got two strikeouts and a groundout to stop the Canisius rally. The Griffs got runners to first and second in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings but could never get the big hit as Canisius left eight runners on base in the game.
Main (4-6) took the complete-game loss as she allowed three runs, all earned, and five hits while walking four and striking out six.
In the second game, Canisius took a quick 1-0 lead as senior Lauren Hope led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Lauren Falzone, took third on a grounder and eventually scored on an error. Fairfield came right back in the bottom of the inning and took a 2-1 lead on a two-run homer from Lauren Liseth.
Canisius tied the game in the fourth as senior Emily Helbig led off with a double and pinch runner Chloe Contreras would score on a two-out double from Val Nappo to make the score 2-2. The Stags re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of a hit by pitch and walk to lead off the inning. Wigand would give Fairfield the 4-2 lead with a two-out, two-RBI single.
Canisius got a leadoff double from senior Paige Freiberger in the sixth, and Freiberger moved to third on wild pitch. Helbig followed with an RBI single to cut the Fairfield lead to 4-3. That would be all the scoring for the Griffs as Helbig was thrown out at second on an attempted steal. Katie Lancellotti drew a one-out walk and a two-out single from Nappo put runners at first and second, but reliever Rebecca Trott got a strikeout to end the Canisius threat. The Griffs got the tying run into scoring position with one out in the seventh and runners to second and third with two outs but Trott got a flyout to end the game and record the save.
Mince (10-6) would get the win in the second game, allowing three runs, two earned, in five innings while striking out three. Sophomore Amanda Baun (7-7) took the loss for the Griffs, allowing four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out 11.
Canisius returns to the field for a doubleheader on Sunday, at Iona. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
