FISHKILL, N.Y. – The No. 4 seeded Canisius college baseball team was defeated by the No. 1 seeded Fairfield Stags in the winners-bracket semifinal on Friday afternoon, 8-5, at Dutchess Stadium, in Fishkill, N.Y. The Griffs now fall to the losers-bracket In the tournament and will face the winner of the Siena vs. Manhattan contest. Canisius overall record falls to 32-26 while Fairfield improves to 31-24 overall.

The Canisius pitching staff labored throughout the game, issuing 11 walks between the four hurlers.

Alex Godzak  got the start and worked a gritty 2.2 innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs. Andrew Sipowicz came on in relief and calmed the Fairfield bats, holding the Stags to just two hits through his 2.1 innings.

Tyler Smith came on in the sixth frame, and struggled with command, issuing five free passes, in his 2.0 innings of work, allowing two hits and three earned runs. Smith was credited the loss and fell to 6-3 on the season. Michael Ginther finished the final frame and walked a batter but held the Stags off the scoresheet.

Offensively the Griffs received contributions from Tim Kensinger and Liam Wilson who both drove in a pair of runs during the game. Kensinger, Jake Lumley and Adam Tricarico paced the team with two hits apiece.

Fairfield was sparked by the efforts of Drew Arciuolo who went 3-of-4 at the dish and recorded a pair of RBi in the win.

Fairfield started fast, jumping out to a 3-0 lead, before a Kensinger single drove in two and got the Griffs to within one run.

The Stags got the score out to 5-2 by the top of the fourth but again, the Blue and Gold responded, this time Wilson doing the damage with two RBI in the frame.

The Griffs closed to within one run in the top of the sixth but Jake Salpietro answered in the bottom half of the inning with a solo homerun, and the Griffs couldn't close the gap to fall 8-5.

Canisius will no play its first elimination game tonight, waiting to see who emerges from the Siena vs. Manhattan game. The winner will play the Griffs in a contest for the right to advance to the championship round. This the second straight year the Blue and Gold will look to win a title form the losers bracket.