The Canisius baseball team got off to a great start in a mid-week doubleheader against Cornell on Wednesday, with a 6-1 win over the Big Red, but last-inning heroics forced the series split in the second game, 4-3. At the end of the day the Griffs improved to 21-25 overall while Cornell improved to 14-28.

In game one the Griffs pitching staff dominated the Big Red, holding Cornell to just two hits and three total baserunners in the contest.

Josh Shepley improved to 2-2 in the game as he worked five innings, allowed two hits and yielded just one run during the stretch. Zachary Sloan finished up the seven-inning affair, pitching the final two frames and held the Big Red hitless.

Zach Garick led the squad offensively as he went 3-for-3 with two RBI during the contest. Both Anthony Massicci and Jesse Puscheck also played a role in the win with a pair of hits each.

Canisius got on the board in the top of the second inning as both Jesse Puscheck and Jake Lumley recorded back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second. Zach Garick doubled to left field to bringing in a pair to make it 2-0. Anthony Massicci singled to first base and Garick scored on a throwing error to push another run across. The Griffs ended the inning up 3-0.

Canisius added a fourth run in the top of the third but Cornell answered back in the bottom of the fifth as Frankie Padulo scored on a wild pitch.

Massicci tallied his lone RBI of the day as singled up the middle to drive in Lumley in the top of the sixth and the Griffs got its final run in the seventh, as Brett Siddall doubled to right center to bring Conor Panas around to score and secure the 6-1 win.

In game two Canisius held a lead until the final half inning as a fielding error extended the inning and led to a two-run double by Matt Hall to give the Big Red a walk-off win.

The Griffs pitching was once again strong for the most part as Aaron Casper made the start and pitched two innings and allowed three hits and two earned runs. Mike Elwood came on in relief and worked a pair of frames, as he held the Big Red hitless. Eric Stolzenburg followed in fifth as he pitched 1.2 innings and also held Cornell hitless, while Brandon Bielecki came on to pitch 0.2 innings and allowed no hits but one earned run. Iannick Remillard came on in the seventh to try to earn his eighth save of the year but allowed the game-tying and go-ahead RBI to be scored off a double by Hall.

Paul Balestrieri got the start for the Big Red as he worked 5.0 innings and allowed five hits and two earned runs for the no-decision. Michael Byrne came on in relief and shut the door on the Canisius offense, as he held the Griffs hitless for the final two frames and earned the win.

The trio of Panas, Stekl, Puscheck all recorded RBI in the final game as Panas' two hits led the offensive attack.

Panas led off the game with a bang as he belted his sixth homerun of the season to give Canisius a 1-0 lead.

Cornell briefly took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first and second innings before Canisius answered back in the top of the third. Panas got on to start the inning again as he tripled to right center before Stekl singled to left field to bring him home. With the game tied, Puscheck drove in Stekl with an RBI single to left before being thrown out at second base to end the rally.

The 3-2 score stood until the bottom of the seventh inning when Bielecki, with one out, hit Ryan Karl with a pitch and gave the Big Red a base runner.

Remillard came on to help close the game out but the next batter he faced reached due to a fielding error by Panas. With the error, Cornell had runners at first and third. A double to right center field drove in the tying run and also brought Dale Wickham around to notch the game-winning run in the team's final game of the season.

Canisius now gets ready to host its first MAAC series since April 4 when the squad hosted the Rider Broncs. The Griffs welcome Marist for a two-game set on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., while Sunday's series finale is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.