The Canisius softball team moved to 8-0 in the MAAC with a doubleheader sweep of Marist on Sunday, recording a 1-0 win in the opener before posting a 9-5 victory in eight innings the nightcap. In the second game, Canisius senior Michelle DelPrince hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the eighth to lift the Golden Griffins to their first sweep of Marist since 2007.
Canisius freshman pitcher Erika Mackie picked up both of the wins in the circle for the Blue and Gold on Sunday. In the first game, the Scranton, Pa., native allowed just four hits and fanned three en route to her ninth win of the season, and in the second game, she came on in relief of fellow freshman Madi Weathers to earn the win after she threw a scoreless 1.1 innings where she walked two.
In the second game, Canisius led 5-1 heading into the seventh inning before Marist scored four times to knot the game at 5-5. After Mackie retired the Red Foxes (14-18, 4-4 MAAC) in the top-half of the eighth, Canisius had a runner on first with two down. Junior Meghan Cuda drew a walk and sophomore Jessica Berzins reached on an infield-single to load the bases, setting the stage for DelPrince's heroics. DelPrince took Marist reliever Melanie White's 1-1 offering over the fence in left for her third home run this season and her second career grand slam to lift Canisius to the win.
Marist tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth before Canisius jumped to a 5-1 lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. In that frame, two runs scored on a fielder's choice by junior Alexis Roman and sophomore Lindsey Silfer drove in a pair of runs with an RBI-single to right.
White took the loss in relief after she allowed four runs on three hits while walking four and striking out one in 3.1 innings of action. Canisius had nine hits in the game two win, with DelPrince going 2-for-3 with four RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Cuda went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in game two, while Silfer racked up three hits, two RBI and a run scored.
In the first game, Silfer's solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the fourth proved to be enough support for Mackie. Canisius had four hits in game one, with Berzins recording a double and sophomore Sarah Andrews picking up a base hit as well. White was the tough-luck loser in game one as well, as she allowed one run on four hits to go with seven strikeouts and four walks in six innings of work.
Canisius will return to action Wednesday, April 15, when the team travels to meet cross-town rival Buffalo. The first game of the non-conference doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius now leads the all-time series with Marist by a 29-14… Canisius extended its MAAC winning streak to 10-straight, dating back to last year… The Griffs improved to 2-2 on the year in extra-inning games… DelPrince's first career grand slam came April 20, 2012 in a win over Saint Peter's on the road… Mackie is the first Canisius freshman pitcher to win 10-or more games since former Griff Amanda Baun won 18 games in her rookie season of 2010… Silfer is the 22nd player in school history to hit five-or more home runs in a single season… Prior to the start of Sunday's doubleheader, Margaret Roman, grandmother of Alexis Roman and an ovarian cancer survivor, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
