The Canisius College baseball team overcame a seven-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning, led by senior Connor Panas, as the Griffs secured the weekend sweep of Marist with a 16-11 win at the Demske Sports Complex, Sunday. Panas completed what had already been a solid weekend, with a five hit, six RBI effort to help put the Griffs in the lead for good. With the win Canisius is now 24-25 overall and 12-6 in MAAC play, while Marist finished the weekend 14-23-1 and 8-10 in conference play.

Panas came into this game having already tallied a strong Saturday with a walk-off homerun to end game one, and a key RBI in game two. He easily topped his weekend in game three however, as he came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and gave the Griffs their first lead of the game with one swing of the bat, as he hit a grand slam to right field. Panas hit another homerun in the bottom of the seventh as he went 5-for-5 for the game.

All nine Canisius starters tallied a hit in the game with Panas' five hits leading the way. Brett Siddall stayed hot at the dish with three hits for the game. Siddall added a homerun to extend his team-leading number of long balls to 11.

Marist didn't struggle offensively either as Steve Laurino led the squad in game three. Laurino went 5-of-6 at the dish and recorded five RBI on the day.

J.P. Stevenson got the start and struggled again, as he pitched just 1.2 innings and allowed seven hits and six earned runs. Tyler Smith relieved him and worked 2.1 innings and allowed four hits and three runs. Zachary Sloan was credited with the win, as he pitched 1.2 innings allowed four hits, but kept the Red Foxes off the score sheet. Canisius closer Iannick Remillard recorded his team-leading eighth save, as he worked the rest of the way, going 3.1 innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs, and fanning two.

Rich Vrana got the start for Marist and he worked four innings and allowed 10 hits and eight runs for the day. Stephen Priolo was saddled with the loss as he worked 0.1 inning and allowed two earned runs. Tyler Dearden and Thomas Ryan came on and combined for 3.2 innings of work, and allowed six hits and five runs, four earned.

Marist posted a big first inning, tallying four-straight hits to lead off the frame. The Red Foxes finished the first first with a 4-0 lead.

Zach Garick and Ryan Stekl both recorded RBI in the bottom half of the inning to keep things close.

Marist posted two runs in the top of the second to chase Stevenson from the game.

It appeared the top of the fourth was going to be the back-breaker for the Griffs, as a Matt Pagano double drove in two RBI and Mark Swertfager tallied a run to take a commanding 9-2 lead.

Again the Griffs answered in the home half of the inning as Cyrus Senior got things started with the bases loaded with a single to drive in the first run of the rally. Panas was then hit by a pitch which brought home another run. Jesse Puscheck did the rest with a double to left field, as he drove in Senior and Anthony Massicci.

Canisius kept it going in the fifth, as Siddall got the inning off to a bang with his 11th homerun of the year. Panas did the rest later in the inning with a grand slam to take the lead.

Remillard came in and helped close the game out as Canisius tallied four more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to help close out the win 16-11.

Canisius now enters the homestretch of its conference schedule, and gets ready for a weekend series at Siena next weekend, before hosting its final series of the year against Niagara at the Demske Sports complex on May 14-15.