The Canisius softball team improved to 16-11 overall and 6-0 in MAAC play with a pair of wins over Quinnipiac Saturday evening at the Demske Sports Complex. The Golden Griffins scored an 8-0 win in six innings in the first game before scoring a 17-2 win in five innings in the night cap. Quinnipiac fell to 6-23 overall and 2-4 in MAAC play with the pair of losses.
In the first game, Canisius scored single runs in each of the first two innings and then plated two runs in the third to take a 4-0 lead over the Bobcats. In the fourth, Canisius made it 5-0 when sophomore Jessica Berzins scored on a passed ball, and the Griffs ended the game early thanks to the mercy-rule when the team plated three runs in the sixth while taking advantage of two Quinnipiac errors. The Griffs pounded out seven hits in the win, with Berzin going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Junior Alexis Roman had a triple, two RBI and a run scored in the victory for Canisius, while sophomore Lindsey Silfer went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a run batted in.
Freshman pitcher Erika Mackie picked up her team-leading eighth win of the season in the circle after she threw her third one-hitter of the year. Mackie allowed Quinnipiac leadoff hitter Nikki Barba to start the game with an infield hit, and then she proceeded to shut down the Bobcats' offense, as only one base runner reached third base in the victory. Quinnipiac starter Hannah Lindsley took the loss in the circle for the Bobcats after she allowed eight runs, three earned, on seven hits to go with four walks and four strikeouts.
In the second game, Canisius batted around in the home-half of the first and the second, jumping out to an early 13-2 lead en route to the 17-2 victory. Senior Michelle DelPrince had two hits, including a three-run homer in the fourth, and freshman Moriah Harris had two hits as well, including a solo homer in the third. Freshman pitcher Madi Weathers picked up her seventh win in the circle after she allowed two runs on five hits while fanning five.
Canisius will return to action Sunday, April 12, when the team plays host to defending MAAC champion Marist at the Demske Sports Complex on Cancer Awareness Day. Game one of the MAAC twinbill is set to start at 1 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius is 4-0 all-time against Quinnipiac… The last time Canisius was 6-0 in MAAC play was 2008… Dating back to last year, the Griffs have won eight-straight MAAC games… The 17 runs scored for Canisius are the most for the program since April 16, 1997, when Canisius defeated Niagara 17-2 in five innings at home… The home run for Harris in game two was the first of her career… The homer for DelPrince was her second this season and the fourth in her career… Roman stole a career-high three bases in the game two win… As a team, Canisius stole a total of 17 bases in the two games on Saturday.
