The Canisius softball team improved to 21-14 overall and 10-2 in MAAC play with a doubleheader sweep of Saint Peter's at the Demske Sports Complex Saturday afternoon. The Golden Griffins won the first game 10-2 in five innings before taking the second game of the twinbill by a 9-0 count in five innings. Saint Peter's fell to 2-34 overall and 1-15 in MAAC play with the pair of losses.
In the first game, Canisius sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs in the frame to take an 8-2 lead heading to the third. In the bottom of the second, juniors Tori Nappo and Bethany DeMarco had an RBI, as did sophomore outfielder Jessica Berzins and senior outfielder Michelle DelPrince. Canisius ended up scoring three runs with two outs in the inning after what appeared to be an inning-ending strikeout of freshman Moriah Harris. After Harris swung and missed at strike three, Saint Peter's catcher Sam Storms bobbled the ball, and in an attempt to throw Harris out at first, she ended up throwing the ball into right field, allowing three runs to cross the plate. Canisius ended the game in the home-half of the fifth when Berzins ripped a two-run homer over the fence in right-center.
The Griffs banged out nine hits in the win, with Berzins going 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Lindsey Silfer had two hits, including a double, while DeMarco registered three hits, two runs scored and an RBI in the victory. Canisius freshman Erika Mackie improved to 12-5 on the season after she earned the win in the circle. Mackie allowed two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking six. Saint Peter's starter Crystal Carlucci took the loss for the Peacocks after she gave up 10 runs, seven earned, on nine hits to go with three strikeouts and five walks.
In the second game, Canisius broke the game open with a six-run second inning and three more runs in the third en route to a 9-0 victory. In the second, 12 Canisius batters went to the plate and the Blue and Gold scored six times on five hits, with the highlight of the inning coming when DelPrince recorded her MAAC-leading fifth triple of the season that drove in two runs. In the third, DelPrince hit her fourth homer of the season, a three-run shot over the fence in right, to put Canisius up 9-0 through three frames.
DelPrince finished the game by going 2-for-2 with a triple, a home run, two runs scored and a career-high five RBI. Nappo scored two runs in the game two victory, while junior Alexis Roman went 1-for-3 with an RBI for the Blue and Gold. Freshman pitcher Madi Weathers earned the win in the circle for Canisius after she allowed two hits and fanned five in five innings of work.
Canisius will return to action Sunday, April 26, when the team plays host to MAAC-leading Manhattan at the Demske Sports Complex. Game one of the MAAC doubleheader is set to begin at 11 a.m.
Game Notes: Canisius now leads the all-time series between the two Jesuit schools by a 47-12 count… The Griffs are now 6-0 at home in league play this season, with four of those wins coming in mercy-rule games… As a team, Canisius is hitting .325 in MAAC games this year… With 11 total runs in the second inning today, Canisius has now scored 33 runs in the second frame through the season… Before today's second game, DelPrince's career-high for RBI in a game was four, set April 13, against Saint Peter's at home… DelPrince's triple in game two moves her into 12th place on the school's career triples list with 11… Berzins has reached base safely in 17-straight games, which matches her season-long streak… Berzins is also currently riding an eight-game hitting streak... Silfer has reached base safely in 12-straight games.
