FISHKILL, N.Y. – The Canisius baseball team advanced to the semifinal round of the MAAC tournament on Thursday, as Mike Elwood led the team to an 8-4 win at Dutchess Stadium, in Fishkill, N.Y. Elwood came on in relief and worked five strong innings, to help the Griffs improve to 32-25 overall, while Siena dropped to the losers bracket of the tournament and fell to 23-31.

Nolan Hunt got the start for the Griffs and labored through two innings before Canisius turned to Elwood to calm things down and he did just that. The Amherst, N.Y. native pitched five innings and scattered six hits, and just two runs over the course of the game and the Griffs offense did the rest.

The top part of the lineup was red-hot once again, as Anthony Massicci recorded three hits and two RBI, while Ryan Stekl notched two RBI in the win. Jake Lumley was also a source of offense, registering three hits in the second game of the tournament for the Blue and Gold.

The Blue an Gold threatened in the top of the first as Massicci led off with a base hit to right field. Following a strikeout by Tim Kensinger, Lumley and Liam Wilson reached by way of a base hit and walk, respectively, to load the basepaths early for Siena starter Kyano Cummings.

The Siena hurler worked out of the jam by fanning Stekl and getting Adam Tricarico to fly out to left field to avoid any damage in the top half of the first frame.

Siena struck first in the contest, cashing in on a leadoff single by Dan Swain, as Jordan Folgers singled to center and brought him home to make it 1-0. Acrobatic catches by Mark McKenna and Kensinger got Hunt out of the inning without further damage.  

Canisius answered in the home half of the second as a leadoff single by Christ Conley and walk by McKenna put runners on base, before a two-out single by Kensinger drove both home. Kensinger was then gunned out trying to stretch it into a double to end the inning with the Blue and Gold up, 2-1.

Siena answered in the bottom of the second as Swain drove in Dan Lowndes to tie the game at 2-2.

Dan Lowndes helped the Saints take the lead in the bottom of the third, drilling a sacrifice fly to right field to score Fred Smart. Elwood, who came on at the beginning of the frame, worked out of the jam, stranding two base runners in the process.

Canisius took the lead in the top of the fifth, and blew the game open in the top of the sixth as Stekl drilled a ball to left center and brought home a pair of base runners to make it 6-3.

Canisius would go on to score again in the seventh inning and again in the ninth, while Siena closed the gap in the seventh.

The Griffs turned to Iannick Remillard who recorded his 17th save of the season, working two full frames in the eighth and the ninth innings and holding Siena hitless and scoreless.

Canisius now will go on to face No. 1 seeded Fairfield in the MAAC tornament semifinals tomorrow at noon. The winner will advance to the conference championship round while the loser will go on to face an elimination game later in the day.