Box Score FISHKILL, N.Y. - The 2015 MAAC Player of the Year, Brett Siddall kept the Canisius baseball team's championship hopes alive in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he belted a grand slam over the right field fence to help propel the Golden Griffins to an 8-7 victory over Rider at Dutchess Stadium Friday evening With the win, Canisius now advances in the elimination bracket of the 2015 MAAC Baseball Championship, where the team will play Quinnipiac at 7:20 p.m. tonight. The loss ends Rider's season.
The Broncs scored five runs in the first four innings as they staked claim to the early lead. Canisius chipped away at the advantage throughout the rest of the game but Siddall's grand slam with two down in the eighth gave Canisius a lead it never relinquished.
Siddall finished the game by going 3-for-5 at the dish with five RBI to lead the offense. Senior Connor Panas added three hits and scored two runs in the win for the Griffs.
Senior Devon Stewart allowed five runs on five hits while fanning five in seven innings of work. Rider threatened in the final two innings, but junior closer Iannick Remillard closed out the final two frames to earn his 10th save of the year.
Rider got on the board first as James Locklear reached with a base hit, and Justin Thomas drove him in with a two-run homerun to left field to make it 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
The Broncs added two more in the bottom of the second as Nick Richter drove in a pair thanks to a two-out double to make it 4-0 at the end of the second frame.
The Griffs broke out in the top of the seventh, as Siddall drove in a run thanks to an RBI-single to centerfield. Senior Jesse Puscheck continued the rally with a two-run single to make it 5-4.
In the eighth with two outs, freshman Cyrus Senior started the rally with an infield single. Panas followed Senior and singled through the right side. Senior Mike Krische reached safely to load the bases, which forced Rider to its bullpen. The Broncs turned to Eric Thomas, the 2015 MAAC Reliever of the Year, the MAAC's top reliever was bested by the MAAC's top player, as Siddall gave one a ride to clear the bases and put the Blue and Gold in the lead for good.
GAME NOTES: Canisius has beaten Rider in four-straight MAAC Baseball Championship games, dating back to 2010... Stewart's win on the hill is the third MAAC Tournament victory in his career… The Griffs' last grand slam in MAAC Tournament play came in 2013 against Rider... Canisius is now 9-6 in elimination games in the MAAC Tournament under head coach Mike McRae... Remillard is one save shy of tying the school's single-season saves record.
