A two-run homer by senior Meghan Cuda and a walk-off double by junior Jessica Berzins helped lift the Canisius Golden Griffins to a 7-6 win over cross-town rival Buffalo Wednesday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex. The win, Canisius' second-straight, improves the Blue and Gold to 9-20 on the year, while the Bulls slipped to 9-21 with the loss. The victory also improved Canisius to 24-3 all-time in home openers on the Demske turf.
Canisius trailed Buffalo 6-4 heading into the bottom-half of the seventh, but freshman Lauren Castro got the rally started for the home team when she led off the frame with a double to center. After Buffalo's defense got an out, Cuda stepped to the plate and drove a pitch over the fence in right to knot the game at 6-6. For Cuda, it was her third home run of the season and the 14th in her career, which ties her for fourth in school history. Junior Taylor Decker followed Cuda's long-ball with a base hit and moments later, teammate Samantha Sharkey sliced a single down the left field line to push pinch runner Madison Aston to second base. That set the stage for Berzins, who roped a double to the gap in left center that allowed Aston to cross the plate as the game-winning run.
Sophomore pitcher Madi Weathers earned her first win of the season in the circle after she came on in relief and threw two innings where she allowed one run on three hits while fanning one. Buffalo reliever Ally Power fell to 0-8 on the season after she took the loss. Power threw 1.2 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits to go with two strikeouts.
The Bulls took a 5-3 lead in the top-half of the fourth thanks to a two-run homer by catcher Catrell Robinson. Canisius made the score 5-4 in the fifth when junior Lindsey Silfer scored from third on a double-steal. Canisius ended the game with nine stolen bases, highlighted by Berzins, who swiped a season-high three bags. Buffalo stretched its lead to 6-4 in the sixth on a solo home run by Katie Weimer, but Canisius was able to score three times in the seventh to secure the victory over UB, the Griffs' second win over their cross-town rivals in as many days.
Canisius pounded out 13 hits in the win, with Berzins and sophomore Moriah Harris each getting three hits for the Griffs. Senior Alexis Roman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Blue and Gold, and she stretched her hitting streak to a season-long four games.
The Griffs will open MAAC play on Saturday, April 2, as the team travels to play at Quinnipiac. The league twinbill in Hamden, Conn., is set to begin at noon.
