The Canisius baseball team overcame a five-run, first-inning deficit and defeated the University of Akron 8-5 in a rain-shortened game at Lee R. Jackson Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Griffins improve to 21-10 with the win.
Junior Jose Torralba went 2-for-3 with two runs scored as eight Golden Griffins recorded hits in the game. Senior Christian Segar and junior Jimmy Luppens each recorded a hit and a walk while junior Jesse Kelso and sophomore Jesse Puscheck each had two RBI in the contest.
The first five Akron players reached in the bottom of the first inning as the Zips (7-23) scored five runs to take the early lead. Canisius scored once in the top of the third on an RBI single from Kelso. The Griffs then scored six runs in the fourth inning when they sent 10 batters to the plate. The inning started with singles from sophomore Connor Panas, Torralba and freshman Anthony Massicci, that scored Panas. After two outs, the Griffs had four consecutive batters reach, starting with a single through the left side from Luppens to load the bases. Kelso was hit by a pitch to make it 5-3 and senior Brooklyn Foster followed with a grounder to the right side. The second baseman bobbled the ball and threw it away, allowing Massicci and Luppens to score and tie the game. Puscheck singled up the middle and put the Griffs up 7-5, with what proved to be the game-winning hit.
Canisius added an another run in the fifth, starting with a leadoff single from Torralba. After the junior stole second, he moved to third on a single from Segar and scored on an RBI groundout from freshman Brett Siddall that made the score 8-5.
Sophomore Rohn Pierce picked up the win, allowing the five runs in four innings, walking one and striking out three. After the first five batters reached, Pierce retired 12 of the last 15 batters he faced. Sophomore Eric Stolzenburg threw one inning of scoreless relief.
Canisius returns to the field on Sunday, for a single game against Gannon University. First pitch at the Demske Sports Complex is set for 1 p.m.
Game Notes: The five-inning game was the shortest game for the Griffs since they lost 1-0 at St. Bonaventure in five innings on April 27, 2011… Canisius batted around for the 10th time this season… Stolzenburg made his team-high 12th appearance of the season… Torralba has reached base six times in his last three starts… The Griffs won their 17th road game of the season.
