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Canisius University Athletics

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Mike McKenna is shown swinging the bat in game action at the Demske Sports Complex
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12
Winner Canisius CAN 5-2
11
Western Carolina WCU 1-6
Winner
Canisius CAN
5-2
12
Final
11
Western Carolina WCU
1-6
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 R H E
Canisius CAN 0 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 3 12 13 2
Western Carolina WCU 0 3 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 11 12 4

W: Frank, Will (1-0) L: Ryan Mitschele (0-1) S: Smith, Tyler (3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Wins 12-11 in Extras; Earns Series Sweep

GAME RECAP
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Senior Liam Wilson's two-run double and senior Ryan Stekl's sacrifice fly in the top of the 13th inning was just enough for Canisius to escape with the 12-11 victory over Western Carolina. The Blue and Gold were able to come back from deficits of five and three runs, respectively, to knock off the Catamounts in a game that went almost five hours in length. The Golden Griffins closed out the three-game series with a sweep and have now won five straight games and boast a 5-2 overall mark, while Western Carolina drops to 1-6 on the season.
 
Canisius was down 6-1 entering the top the fifth inning when senior Christ Conley sparked the Griffs offense. Conley was able to leg out a fielder's choice allowing junior Canice Ejoh to come around and score. Later in the frame, junior Conner Morro reached on an error by the WCU first baseman which pushed Wilson across the plate. Senior Gage Lanning's two RBI single brought the Blue and Gold to within one run at 6-5.
 
After allowing a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth, Canisius was faced with a three-run deficit heading into the top of the ninth inning. Stekl strolled to the plate and blasted a solo shot to right center to cut the lead to 9-7. After back-to-back walks to redshirt sophomore William Krull and Morro, plus a hit by pitch to sophomore Stephen Bennett, the bases were loaded. Ejoh was next up and was able to work his way to every baseball player's childhood dream: bases loaded, full count, two outs, down by two runs in the ninth inning. The Toronto, Ontario native, came through in the clutch for the Golden Griffins as he lifted a single to left field scoring Krull and Bennett to tie the game at nine all.
 
Both sides traded base runners and scoring opportunities for the next three innings, but neither team were able to muster any runs.
 
The ninth inning hero, Ejoh, led off the top of the 13th working his way on base with a walk. After an attempted sacrifice bunt by junior Mark McKenna that turned into an infield single, plus a wild pitch that moved both runners up a station, Wilson came to bat. The Preseason All-MAAC selection showed why he's just that by knocking in McKenna and Ejoh with a double to put the Griffs ahead. A Stekl sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Wilson put the Griffs up 12-9.
 
Senior Tyler Smith came on to try and shut the door. Smith replaced sophomore Will Frank who did a yeoman's work for the Griffs out of the bullpen tossing 3.2 innings, surrendering one hit while striking out five.
 
Smith battled through adversity in the 13th as his defense committed two errors coupled with a wild pitch of his own, resulted in Canisius' lead being shrunk to two. The Trafford, Pa., native did allow one more run, but was able to strikeout the last batter to pick up his third save of the year.
 
GAME NOTES
• Franks' five strikeouts was the most of his career.
• The 36 runs are the most runs in a three-game series for the Blue and Gold since scoring 46 runs versus Niagara May 14-15, 2015 (Wins of 14-4, 16-4 and 13-0).  
• Canisius' 12 base on balls as a team was accomplished twice last season (vs. Gardner Webb, Feb. 12 and vs. Kennesaw State, Mar. 26).

UP NEXT
Canisius travels back to North Carolina next weekend, this time heading to Buies Creek to face Campbell, followed by a two-game series with Bowling Green being played at Campbell. The Golden Griffins will then round out the four-game weekend with their third opponent as they make the trip to Raleigh to face NC State in a single game.


 
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