The Canisius College baseball team split a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon as the squad defeated Central Michigan, 7-4, but fell to Indiana State, 13-2 at the Indiana State tournament. With the 1-1 record the Griffs head into Monday's action with a 7-11 record. 

GAME ONE:

Freshman starting pitcher J.P. Stevenson improved to 2-0 on the season after limiting Central Michigan to just three runs, as Canisius defeated the Chippewas, 7-4, at the Indiana State tournament on Sunday morning. Stevenson held CMU to just five hits and fanned four in the win, as the Griffs improved to 7-10, while the Chippewas fell to 13-7.

Connor Panas and Jesse Puscheck led the Canisius offense as the third and fifth hitters in the lineup combined for three hits and had three RBI each. Ryan Stekl recorded the other RBI for Canisius as he went 1-for-3.

The Griffs got on the board in the bottom of the first as Stekl helped draw first blood as he ripped a single to left field and Jack Massa scored to make it 1-0.

Central Michigan scored two in the top of the third to take the lead, but the Griffs took control with a four-run explosion in the bottom of the fifth.

After recording two quick outs the Griffs got to work, as Jake Lumely appeared to be the final out of the inning, but a fielding error allowed him to reach safely. Massa then walked and Panas took advantage of the runners on base as he smacked a double down the right field line and drove in Lumley. Things got worse for CMU as Stekl walked following the RBI knock, and Puscheck tripled to center field as he drove in three more to retake the lead for Canisius, 5-2.

The Chippewas got one back in their half of the sixth but Canisius once again struck, as Panas recorded two more RBI in the bottom of the sixth to help grow the lead.

Iannick Remillard came on in the seventh to close the door on Central Michigan as he pitched three scoreless innings and allowed two hits for the save.

GAME 2:

The Canisius College pitchers struggled in the second game of its twin bill on Sunday afternoon as the crew surrendered 11 hits and 13 earned runs in eight innings of play against Indiana State on Sunday afternoon. The Sycamores swept the Griffs in the two games it faced Canisius, as the squad improved to 8-7, while the Griffs dropped to 7-11.

Mike Elwood started the game for the Blue and Gold, but ran into a disastrous first inning in which he allowed five hits and eight earned runs, as Canisius fell into an early hole.

Zachary Sloan took over and pitched three innings, as he allowed six hits and five earned runs on 52 pitches. Alex Godzak came in and stopped the bleeding as he pitched three scoreless frames and struck out six, while Tyler Vavra pitched the final inning and allowed no hits and struck out one.

The Griffs did manage two runs in the contest as Lumley and Puscheck recorded the lone RBI for Canisius. Panas and Brett Sidall recorded the most hits for Canisius as the duo both had two.

Andy Young and Taylor Steen led the way for the Sycamores as they both managed four RBI apiece.

Ryan Keaffaber pitched the most for Indiana State as he pitched 6.1 innings and allowed seven hits and one earned run to improve to 2-0.

Most of the damage was done in the bottom of the first inning as the Sycamores dropped eight runs on the Blue and Gold. Jacob Hayes tripled to left fiend to drive in a pair, while a Steen homerun added three more. Tyler Friis did the rest, as a double down the left field line helped push the score to 8-0.

Puscheck got Canisius on the board in the top of the fourth as he smacked a homerun to make it 8-1, however Indiana State scored five more in the bottom of the fourth to suppress the comeback bid.

The Griffs will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as the squad takes Rutgers in the final game of the Indiana State tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.