The Griffs got off to a good start in its weekend series against Monmouth Saturday, as an Alex Godzak led squad defeated Monmouth 6-0, on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks evened the season series at 1-1 in the second game of the doubleheader as Monmouth used late inning heroics to defeat Canisius 3-1 to end the day. With the split the Griffs are now 20-23 overall and 9-5 in the MAAC, while Monmouth improves to 13-19 and 7-7 in conference play.

In the first game, Canisius pitching proved to be key as Godzak threw six scoreless innings, and yielded just two hits and three walks and recorded three strikeouts to improve to 5-3. Zachary Sloan came on in relief and pitched three scoreless innings, allowed just one hit, fanned three, and recorded his first save of the year.

Chris McKenna started for Monmouth as he pitched 6.1 innings and allowed seven hits, six runs (four earned) as he dropped to 0-6.

Brett Siddall remained hot at the plate as he went 3-of-4 from at the dish and recorded two RBI's to lead the offense. Jesse Puscheck and Jack Massa pitched in with an RBI apiece to help the cause.

Key errors by the Hawks in the fifth helped give the Griffs the early 2-0 advantage. After adding another run in the sixth, the Griffs did its most damage in the seventh as it pushed across three runs.

Puscheck singled to left field to drive in Zach Garick. Siddall did the rest with a double to centerfield to bring in a pair and help secure the 6-0 win.

In game two, pitching was once again on display. Devon Stewart went the distance but didn't receive the run support to earn the win. Stewart pitched six innings, allowed eight hits and three earned runs, but wracked up a season-high nine strikeouts in the outing.

T.J. Hunt got the start for the Hawks as he pitched seven innings and yielded just three hits to improve to 4-3.

Connor Panas had the team's lone RBI of the game as he 0-for-2 with one walk. The middle of the lineup was the only ones to earn a hit, as Puscheck, Siddall and Stekl each recorded a hit

With Siddall, Puscheck and Stikel aboard, Panas drove in a run as he grounded out to second base. The Griffs threatened to add more but stranded two runners to end the frame.

Monmouth answered quickly as Chris Gaetano singled to right centerfield to knot things up at 1-1.

The Hawks pulled ahead in the sixth as the squad tallied two runs on three hits to sink the Griffs, 3-1.

The rubber match between these two squads will be on Sunday, with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.

GAME NOTES:
The all-time series between these two squads is 4-1 in favor of Canisius … Alex Godzak improved to 5-3 and is the first Griffs hurler to reach five wins this season … Stewart's nine strikeouts in game No. 2 was a season-high for the starter … With Siddall's two RBI in game one, he now has eight RBI in his last five games … Jake Lumley extended his hitting streak in game one to 10, but had it snapped in the final game of the series … The Griffs longest hitting streak after the two-game set is now three as Puscheck and Siddall have recorded hits in the last three.