As the Canisius baseball team wrapped up the Indiana State tournament against Rutgers on Monday, sloppy defense proved to be the difference, as the Griffs dropped the contest, 12-8. The Griffs fall to 7-12 overall while Rutgers improves to 3-12.

The Blue and Gold recorded five errors through nine innings of play, as the squad surrendered seven runs in the first three frames. A beleaguered pitching staff allowed the Scarlet Knights 14 hits and seven earned runs in the loss.

Starting pitcher Brandon Bielecki struggled to overcome fielding errors behind him as he allowed six hits and five runs, with only three coming as earned runs. He did strike out two in two innings of work.

Meanwhile, Rutgers starting pitcher John O'Reilly spread out six hits through five innings and fanned two. The Scarlet Knight starter also allowed five runs but only two earned, as he improved 2-0 on the year.

The Canisius offense did manage 10 hits during the game as Jake Lumley, Brett Siddall, and Cyrus Senior all chipped in with a pair of RBI each. Lumley, Jesse Puscheck, and Senior led the team with two hits apiece.

Kyle Walker led the way for Rutgers as he tallied three RBI on three hits, while Tom Marcinczyk recorded two RBI on four hits.

Both team's offenses were cranking early as both squads plated a run in the first, while Canisius pushed three across in the bottom of the second to make it 4-3.

The Scarlet Knight's top of the third proved to separate the two squads as a four-run half inning gave Rutgers a lead it didn't relinquish.

A lead off double by Marcinczyk helped set the tone for the inning as the Scarlett Knights loaded the bases, leading to a pitching change. Tyler Smith came on in relief of Beilecki but worked his way further into trouble. A sacrifice fly by Walker drove in two, while a wild pitch scored a run and Smith walked in run as Rutgers went up  7-4.

The Scarlet Knights continued to add to its lead throughout the game, including a three-run top of the sixth.

With the score 12-6, the Griffs attempted to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth.

Connor Panas doubled to right field following a Massa strikeout to put a runner on. Siddall proceeded to blast a homer to deep centerfield to drive in a pair to make it 12-8. Following the homer, Puscheck walked to get a runner on but a groundout by Stekl and a fielder's choice putout by Anthony Massicci, ended the inning and the comeback for the Griffs.

Canisius will now stay out on the road when it plays a mid-week game against Penn State in State College, Pa., on Wednesday. That game is slated for 5:30 p.m. Following that contest the Griffs will prepare to open MAAC play as the squad heads to New Rochelle, N.Y., to face Iona on Friday and Saturday.