Canisius junior Meghan Cuda hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth and freshman pitcher Madi Weathers went the distance and fanned a career-high eight batters as the Golden Griffins (22-15, 11-3 MAAC) defeated Manhattan 6-4 in eight innings in the second game of a MAAC doubleheader Sunday at the Demske Sports Complex. In the first game, the Jaspers (24-13, 13-3 MAAC) hit three home runs, including a grand slam by sophomore Jenn Vazquez in the fourth inning, en route to a 9-1 victory in five innings.
The win in game-two, Canisius' third walk-off win in MAAC home games this season, helped clinch a spot for the Blue and Gold in the six-team MAAC Softball Championship, which will be held May 6-9 at the site of the regular-season champion.
In the second game, Canisius trailed Manhattan 4-3 in the seventh inning, but the Griffs forced the game to extra frames on a sacrifice-fly by sophomore Lindsey Silfer. Canisius senior Michelle DelPrince led the home-half of the seventh inning off with a double down the right field line, and she advanced to third on a sacrifice-bunt by junior Alexis Roman. Silfer followed Roman by hitting a long fly ball down the left field line, which was deep enough to score DelPrince from third and knot the game at 4-4. After the Jaspers went scoreless in the eighth, junior Bethany DeMarco earned a one-out walk off Manhattan reliever Amy Bright. Cuda followed DeMarco and ended the game with two outs in the eight after she smashed her first home run of the season over the fence in right center to give Canisius the 6-4 victory.
Weathers picked up her ninth win of the season after she allowed four runs on nine hits while walking five and striking out eight. Bright took the loss in the circle for Manhattan after she allowed two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of work.
Cuda went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in the second game, while DelPrince and Roman added two hits apiece. DelPrince also had a homer and scored two runs in the win for Canisius, which collected eight hits as a team in the winning effort.
In the first game, Canisius jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by Silfer, her team-leading sixth of the season. From there, the Jaspers' offense took over, as Manhattan banged out 13 hits and scored nine times between the third and fifth frames. Junior catcher Elena Bowman went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer and two doubles in the win, with that home run being her MAAC-leading 15th of the season. For Canisius, sophomores Jessica Berzins and Samantha Sharkey had two hits apiece in the loss.
Canisius freshman Erika Mackie took the loss in game one after she allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 12 hits wile walking six and fanning four. Bright picked up her 14th win of the season for the Jaspers in the first game of the doubleheader after she gave up just one run on five hits to go with four strikeouts and a walk.
Canisius will close out the home portion of its 2015 schedule on Wednesday, April 29, when the team hosts long-time rival Niagara. First pitch of the MAAC doubleheader is set for 3 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius leads the all-time series with Manhattan by a 50-13 count… The Griffs and the Jaspers have split the regular-season series in four of the last five meetings, dating back to 2011… Canisius has outscored its opponents 8-4 in extra innings this season… Canisius is 3-1 this season when hitting two or more home runs in a game… In 11 home games this season, Canisius is outscoring its opponents 72-45… The home run for Cuda was the 11th of her career, which ties her for 13th all-time in school history… Berzins' two hits in game one gives her 15 multi-hit games this season, which leads the team… Berzins was also credited with two defensive assists on Sunday to give her seven this season, which leads all of the Griffs' regular outfielders… After the game two win, Canisius took the time to honor seniors Robin Kennery and DelPrince.
