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Canisius University Athletics

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William Krull is shown batting against West Virginia on Feb. 19, 2019
Marshal Filipowicz
2
Canisius CAN 1-4
9
Winner Charlotte CHA 4-1
Canisius CAN
1-4
2
Final
9
Charlotte CHA
4-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CAN 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 6 1
Charlotte CHA 3 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 X 9 12 0

W: Matt Brooks (2-0) L: Sipowicz, Andrew (0-1)

5
Winner Canisius CAN 2-4
3
Charlotte CHA 4-2
Winner
Canisius CAN
2-4
5
Final
3
Charlotte CHA
4-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CAN 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 8 1
Charlotte CHA 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 10 2

W: Kneussle, Andrew (1-0) L: Cooner (0-1) S: Frank, Will (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Charlotte

The Canisius baseball team dropped game one to Charlotte, 9-2, before the Golden Griffins rebounded for a 5-3 win in the second game, as the Griffs split their first doubleheader of the season Sunday afternoon at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
 
Junior centerfielder Jake Burlingame was the offensive spark for the Griffs in the opening game, going 2-for-3 and driving in both Canisius runs off a triple and a solo homer. In the second game, freshman catcher Trevor Henneman got the Blue and Gold going with a solo blast in his first career at-bat, while redshirt-junior William Krull collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Golden Griffins at the plate.
 
Game One Recap:
Charlotte got out in front early, as Carson Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a double to the left-center gap before Harris Yett doubled to the same spot, scoring Johnson for the opening run of the game. Rafi Vazquez then cleared the bases with a two-run homer to left, putting Charlotte up, 3-0.
 
The Niners added to the lead in the bottom of the second when Patrick Wheeler was hit by a pitch to start the home half of the inning. After Canisius starter Andrew Sipowicz was able to get two outs, Wheeler stole second and a single from Johnson scored the runner to make it 4-0.
 
The Griffs put two runners on in the top of the third, as Burlingame and senior Conner Morro both drew walks, but Canisius was unable to create any further offense in the inning.
 
Yett roped his second double of the game to start the bottom half of the third, and Vazquez followed with a double of his own to plate Yett. After a groundout advanced Vazquez to third, an infield single by Tommy Bullock scored the Charlotte first baseman, extending the lead to 6-0 and ending Sipowicz's day.
 
The fourth saw the 49ers push the score to 8-0, as Yett homered for his third extra-base hit of the game, scoring Johnson who reached via a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
 
The Blue and Gold finally got on the board in the fifth, as redshirt-freshmen Mike Steffan blasted a double off the fence with one gone. Burlingame then snuck a ball down the right field line, scoring Steffan and sliding into third for his first triple of the season.
 
The two teams exchanged solo shots in the seventh, as Burlingame crushed his first home run of the season with two outs, cutting the lead to 8-2. Yett followed in the bottom of the inning with a homer to left, his second of the game, to give the 49ers a seven-run cushion again.
 
The Griffs threatened again in the eighth, when senior Mark McKenna doubled down the left field line and junior Stephen Bennett singled in the next at-bat, putting runners on the corners with one out. Nothing would come of it though, and Charlotte eventually closed out the 9-2 victory.
 
Sipowicz suffered the loss, as the senior allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings. Senior Jared Kennedy fared better, allowing three earned runs over 4.2 innings, giving up four hits while striking out two. Sophomore Omar Ward pitched a scoreless eighth, allowing an infield single but getting the next batter to ground into a double play and inducing another groundball for the third out.
 
For Charlotte, starter Matt Brooks was awarded the win, throwing six innings of two-hit ball, allowing one earned run and three walks while recording eight strikeouts. Colby Bruce allowed one earned run in two innings of relief and Carson Pinkney followed that with a scoreless ninth. Yett finished the game going 4-for-4, hitting two home runs and two doubles while scoring four runs and driving in four RBI. Vazquez also had a big day for the Niners, notching a homer and a double to go with three RBI.
 
Game Two Recap:
Just like the first game, the Niners opened the scoring as a lead-off triple by Bullock in the second was followed by Drew Ober putting a single into centerfield, scoring Bullock for the 1-0 lead.
 
Canisius answered back quickly in the third, as Henneman launched a 1-1 pitch in his first collegiate at-bat over the left field fence, evening the score at 1-1 with the lead-off home run. Steffan and Morro later followed with one-out walks, setting McKenna up to score Steffan with a single and take the 2-1 advantage. After a Bennett fielder's choice forced McKenna out, Krull drove in both runners with a double into the left field corner, extending the lead to 4-1.
 
The Blue and Gold added to the lead in the fifth, as McKenna singled off Joey Cooner with one gone. This chased the Charlotte starter from the game, bringing on Patrick Szczypinski, who started by walking Bennett. With Krull up, the designated hitter singled to left and a throwing error by the leftfielder Ober allowed McKenna to score and Bennett to move up to third, making it a 5-1 ballgame.
 
Charlotte chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Wheeler opened with a single and Josh Haney singled as well. A double steal and a Dominick Cammarata walk loaded the bases, but Canisius senior starter Andrew Kneussle induced a 6-4-3 double play to limit the 49ers to one run in the inning, keeping the Griffs ahead, 5-2.
 
Charlotte added another run to make it 5-3 when Bullock singled with two gone off junior Kyle Warner in the sixth. Ober followed with an infield single, and heads-up baserunning by Bullock forced a Steffan throwing error that allowed the runner to cross the plate.
 
Warner would hold the 49ers at bay through the next two innings, bringing on junior closer Will Frank in the ninth with the two-run lead. Frank promptly retired two batters before a Johnson walk brought up Jacob Whitley, who popped out to give the Griffs their second victory of the season, 5-3, and Frank his first save of 2019.
 
Kneussle picked up his first win of the campaign, pitching five innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and striking out two batters. Warner bridged the gap between Kneussle and Frank, throwing three innings, allowing one run (unearned) and four hits while recording five strikeouts.
 
Cooner was handed the loss, going 4.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Szczypinski finished with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing two hits and issuing four walks while striking out five. Pinkney also pitched again, going two frames of one-hit ball, striking out one. Ober tallied a 3-for-4 game, driving in the only Charlotte RBI in the loss, while Bullock scored two runs on two hits.
 
Head Coach Matt Mazurek's Postgame Comments:
"To come out and win the second game today is big for our team moving forward. Charlotte is a strong club and to bounce back after a loss like that shows some character.
 
"Burlingame is a guy who should be in our lineup every day. When he gets it going, it is fun to watch. He needs to continue to develop his confidence and days like today help that.
 
"Henneman played like he had been there before. He did a great job of controlling the game behind the plate and slowing things down when hitting."
 
Game Notes:
• Sunday marked the first collegiate start for Henneman, as the catcher got the start behind the plate in the second game.
• Morro's hit streak ended at 10 games after going hitless in game one, snapping a streak that dated back to May 24, 2018 against Niagara.
• Drawing walks in both games, Morro is now on a 15-game on-base streak that started in the second game of a doubleheader with Marist on May 17, 2018.
• Frank's save moves him into a tie for tenth in program history with Joe Mamott at five career saves.
• Bennett has now recorded a hit in every game this season after singling in both games Sunday.
• The 49ers now lead the all-time series, 6-2.
• The loss sends Canisius to 2-4 overall, while Charlotte moves now holds a 4-2 record.
 
 
Next Game:
Canisius finishes its series with Charlotte with an 11 a.m., start on Monday. Probable starters are Canisius sophomore left-hander Jeff DeStefano and Charlotte right-hander Will Palinkas.

 
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