Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Canisius University Athletics

#Griffs The Official Home of the Canisius University Golden Griffins | #Griffs
Mark McKenna
www.tomwolf.smugmug.com
9
Winner Canisius CAN 20-19, 13-3 MAAC
2
Fairfield FFD 25-16, 11-5 MAAC
Winner
Canisius CAN
20-19, 13-3 MAAC
9
Final
2
Fairfield FFD
25-16, 11-5 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CAN 3 0 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 9 12 0
Fairfield FFD 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 0

W: Sipowicz, Andrew (5-1) L: Pope, Austin (2-2)

2
Canisius CAN 20-20, 13-4 MAAC
3
Winner Fairfield FFD 26-16, 12-5 MAAC
Canisius CAN
20-20, 13-4 MAAC
2
Final
3
Fairfield FFD
26-16, 12-5 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Canisius CAN 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 6 1
Fairfield FFD 0 1 2 0 0 0 X 3 9 0

W: Sansone, Michael (4-3) L: Hunt, Nolan (5-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Starts Fairfield Series With Doubleheader Split

RECAP
The Canisius baseball team came out with the split against Fairfield, as the top two teams in the MAAC squared off for a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Alumni Baseball Diamond in Fairfield, Conn. Canisius took the first game, 9-2, before the Stags responded with a narrow 3-2 win in the second half of the twin-bill.
 
With the split, the Golden Griffins moved to 20-20 overall and 13-4 in the MAAC, while the Stags shifted to 26-16 and 12-5 in conference play.
 
Guiding the Griffs to the game one victory was senior Mark McKenna's four hits, as the leadoff hitter registered two runs, two RBI and a double. Junior Stephen Bennett also had a big opener, notching a home run and a double, while redshirt-freshman Cole Hollins recorded two hits in each game of the doubleheader and scored both Canisius runs in the nightcap.
 
For Fairfield, Justin Guerrera and Anthony Boselli both tallied multi-hit performances in each contest, combining for 10 of the Stags' 18 hits on Saturday.
 
GAME ONE
The Griffs opened the scoring in the top of the first when McKenna doubled and junior Jake Burlingame walked, setting up junior Jacob Victor to cash in McKenna on a single. Redshirt-junior William Krull then used a sacrifice fly to score Burlingame and Bennett's double easily brought Victor in to make it 3-0.
 
Fairfield cut into the Canisius lead during the home-half of the third, as Justin Guerrera doubled in Tim Zeng from first. Anthony Boselli later doubled to bring around Guerrera and close the lead to 3-2.
 
McKenna would not allow the score to stay close for long, as he knocked a two-out single in the fourth that plated Hollins and senior Conner Morro for a 5-2 edge.
 
Bennett added to that lead in the fifth, launching a solo home run to the opposite field and extending the advantage to 6-2.
 
The Griffs added two more in the seventh, as Hollins scored Victor on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Morro followed that by singling home Krull.
 
Another insurance run was added in the eighth, as McKenna was able come in from third on a passed ball and raise the lead to 9-2.
 
Earning the win was senior starter Andrew Sipowicz, as the right-hander tossed seven innings of two-run ball, allowing seven hits and fanning three Stag hitters. Junior Kyle Warner closed it out for Sipowicz, allowing two hits over two frames.
 
Austin Pope got the start and the loss for Fairfield, giving up six runs on eight hits over five innings but managing to fan six Griffs. Brendan Harkin and Bobby McNiff both threw two innings in relief, as Harkin allowed two runs on three hits while McNiff allowed a run on one hit.
 
GAME TWO
The host Stags started the scoring in the second, as Tom Ryan doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning and eventually came home on a wild pitch.
 
Fairfield added two more in the third, as Dan Ryan singled home Boselli and Tom Ryan hit a single two batters later to score Dan Ryan, making it 3-0.
 
Redshirt-freshman Mike Steffan gave the Griffs their first run in the fifth, knocking out a single that brought in Hollins.
 
The Griffs cut the Fairfield lead to 3-2 in seventh when Burlingame scored Hollins on a groundout, but the Stags starter, Michael Sansone, was able to get the last out and secure his complete-game victory.
 
Sansone finished with five strikeouts over his seven innings on the hill, scattering two runs on six hits.
 
Senior Nolan Hunt also pitched the whole game on the Canisius side, getting the loss after allowing three runs on nine hits while punching out four Stags.
 
HEAD COACH MATT MAZUREK'S POSTGAME COMMENTS
"Sipowicz came out a little off and then settled in well. When he commanded the zone early, he found success. Overall in game one, our offense did a good job of being ready to hit and staying committed to a process and it paid off. 
 
"Hollins continues to show a good approach in the box. He is getting rewarded right now for his commitment to a process of adjustments and trusting himself a lot more.
 
In game two, we tried to do a little too much in certain spots and it worked against us. We need to take a step back, evaluate and make the necessary adjustments to come out ready for game three tomorrow."
 
GAME NOTES
• Saturday was the 54th and 55th all-time meetings between the two schools, as Fairfield's lead in the series moved to 34-21.
• The Griffs have now won the weekend opener in each of its first six conference series.
• Canisius has reached the 20-win plateau in 13-straight seasons.
• Sipowicz's win is his fifth-straight start where he earned the victory, all coming in league action.
• Saturday was also Sipowicz's fourth-straight start of six-plus innings.
• Sipowicz has now allowed only two walks in his last 32 innings pitched.
• McKenna's four hits in game one match his career high, last collecting four hits against Gonzaga on June 2, 2018.
• The four hits by McKenna also match the team's individual season high, as Krull picked up four hits in the March 23 win over Siena.
• Bennett's homer ties him with Krull for the team lead at four.
 
UP NEXT
Canisius and Fairfield will finish up the three-game series on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for noon.
Print Friendly Version