FISHKILL, N.Y. – The Canisius College offense helped lead the team to a 15-8 win in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament on Wednesday, as the squad rapped out 21 hits. The 21 knocks is the most the team has ever recorded in a MAAC tournament contest.

The Canisius offense used a big eight-run rally in the bottom of the third to blow the game open and held onto the lead for the rest of the contest.

Just about every Canisius starter made offensive contributions, with the efforts of Anthony Massicci and Ryan Stekl leading the way. Massicci reached base every time he came to the plate, going 4-for-4 and drawing a pair of walks. He also chipped in two runs and one RBI.

Stekl rapped out three hits in five at bats, and led the team in RBI with four on the day. He also had a pair of doubles and runs in the contest.

Zachary Sloan got the start in the game and worked three innings and was roughed up in the top of the fourth, allowing five runs, and didn't factor into the decision.

Aaron Casper improved to 7-1 with a three-inning, three hit performance, allowing just one run the rest of the way in the win.

Andrew Sipowicz was also impressive as he worked 2.2 innings and allowed just four hits and one earned run. Jake Casey finished off the game, getting out the only batter he faced.

Meanwhile the Red Foxes' pitching staff struggled early and often in the contest as starter Charlie Jerla was credited with the loss and was rocked during his 2.1 inning outing, allowing nine hits and seven runs with five earned.

Reliever Scott Boches came on and didn't fair much better, working 1.2 innings and allowed seven hits and five runs.

Canisius started strong as Massicci doubled to right center to get things started. Tim Kensinger and Jake Lumley both reached with a walk and a bunt single, respectively.

Wilson failed to score the Canisius baserunners, as he flied out to shallow right field, but Ryan Stekl plated the first run of the game, driving a sacrifice fly to right field, to score Massicci.

Marist knotted things up quickly to begin the second as Taylor Kirkpatrick drilled a homerun to left center to even the score at 1-1.

Canisius retook the lead in the bottom of the third, as a sacrifice bunt by Adam Tricarico brought in Wilson to score, while Massa followed that up with a two RBI double down the right field line to score Stekl and Tricarico.

The rally continued as Joseph Preziuso laid down a sac bunt to score Massa, before an RBI single by Massicci scored the sixth run of the game for Canisius chased Jerla. All told the Blue and Gold borke the game open with a eight hit, eight run rally to give the Griffs a 9-1 lead.

Marist bounced back quickly with a five hit, four run rally, which chased Sloan from the game, and gave way to Casper in the fourth, however the Blue and Gold responded with a five run rally in the bottom of the fifth and added another run in the sixth to complete the first-round win, 15-8.

The Blue and Gold bested a mark that dated back to the 2008, when the squad belted 18 hits in a 16-7 win over the Manhattan Jaspers.

The Griffs will continue on in the tournament in the winners bracket, as the squad will take on the No.2 seed, Siena at noon at Dutchess Stadium.