The Canisius College baseball team, which is in the final week of the regular season, wrapped up its non-conference slate with a 5-3 win over the Akron Zips in Akron, Ohio on Tuesday. A two-run rally in the top of the eighth helped secure the victory. With the win the Griffs improved to 26-27 overall, while Akron dropped 24-26.

While the Griffs belted out 13 hits for the game, the squad left nine runners on base in the contest. Seven Canisius batters recorded hits in the outing with Connor Panas' trio leading the way. Panas went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Backing the senior up was Zach Garick and Adam Tricarico who each recorded a pair. Ryan Stekl, Brett Siddall and Alex O'Donnell who each tallied one RBI each led leading the offense.

For Akron both Gerrard Rohan and Darius Washington provided the offensive spark with each recording two hits apiece. Washington continued his solid play with run production, as he notched three RBI on the day.

Mike Elwood got the start for the Griffs and worked four innings, as he allowed five hits, and three runs, two earned for the no decision. Tyler Vavra came on in relief and threw 1.2 innings and allowed two hits. Zachary Sloan improved to 4-1 this season with his win as he pitched two innings and held Akron hitless and scoreless. Tyler Smith came on and pitched 0.1 inning, while Iannick Remillard worked one inning and notched his ninth save of the year.

The Zips started Josh Lapiana as he worked seven full innings and allowed nine hits and three runs with just one earned. Josh Davis picked up the loss as he worked an inning and allowed three hits and two runs with one earned as he dropped to 3-4.

Panas got the Griffs on the board in the first as he led off the game with an RBI single and then made it around to score on a passed ball later in the inning.

The Zips answered back in the bottom of the second inning, as Washington smacked a two-run double to right center to put Akron up 2-1.

The Griffs didn't wait long to answer as Stekl rapped a single up the middle to drive in Panas and Siddall followed that up with a sacrifice fly to left field as Garick came around to score. Canisius ended the frame up 3-1.

After the Zips evened the score in the bottom of the fourth, the Griffs took the upperhand in the top of the eighth as Siddall scored following a throwing error and O'Donnell added a run a batter later as he drove in John Conti to make it 5-2 by inning's end.

Griffs now settle in for its final series of the year on Thursday when the squad faces Niagara in a doubleheader beginning at noon with the third game taking place on Friday at noon.