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Canisius University Athletics

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Stephen Bennett
Marshal Filipowicz
5
Winner Manhattan MAN 26-31
3
Canisius CAN 24-28
Winner
Manhattan MAN
26-31
5
Final
3
Canisius CAN
24-28
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Manhattan MAN 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 5 12 2
Canisius CAN 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 4 0

W: Stuart, T.J. (8-5) L: Sipowicz, Andrew (6-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Opens MAAC Championship with Loss to Manhattan

In its opening game of the 2019 MAAC Championship, the top-seeded Canisius baseball team was defeated by No. 2 seeded Manhattan, 5-3, on Wednesday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island, N.Y.
 
The Golden Griffins fell to 24-28 overall, while the Jaspers improved to 26-31 this season.
 
Junior Stephen Bennett followed up his selection to the All-MAAC Second Team by hitting a solo home run, while fellow junior Jake Burlingame drew three walks in the loss. For Manhattan, Shawn Blake tallied three hits, including a solo homer, and starter T.J. Stuart threw a complete game victory.
 
Bennett's homer to center opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, but the Jaspers responded in the third when Blake singled to plate Jonathan Barditch.
 
Blake gave Manhattan its first lead in the fifth with his home run. Canisius then answered with two runs in the home-half of the inning, tying the game when a bunt single by senior Mark McKenna advanced fellow senior Joe Preziuso to third and a Manhattan error on the throw brought Preziuso home. Junior Jacob Victor then scored fellow junior Andy Leader on a sacrifice fly that gave the Griffs the lead once again.
 
Swinging the lead back in Manhattan's favor, Nick Cimillo's single in the seventh brought two runners in and made the game 4-3. Matt Padre added another run in the top of the ninth when he singled home Blake for insurance, as the Jaspers closed out the 5-3 win in the bottom of the ninth.

Stuart finished his nine innings with three runs allowed (two earned) over four hits, striking out nine and walking seven.
 
Senior Andrew Sipowicz was handed the loss after being on the hook for four runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings, while junior Kyle Warner allowed a hit-by-pitch and a hit in his two batters faced. Fellow junior Will Frank entered finished up by giving up one run on four hits, striking out three along the way.
 
HEAD COACH MATT MAZUREK'S POSTGAME COMMENTS
"With our backs against the wall we will need to fight. We know we are at our best when we are the aggressor. That is what we will have to become to keep our season alive. The adversity we faced early in the year needs to be relied on to help us fight. Our overall guts, resiliency, intensity and tenacity will now be put to the biggest test we have faced up to this point. We need to wake up tomorrow ready to ring the bell."
 
GAME NOTES
• Wednesday was the 74th all-time meeting between the two MAAC teams, with Manhattan holding a 41-33 advantage.
• The last time the Griffs dropped the first game of a conference tournament was 2015.
• Sipowicz has worked 6.2-plus innings in seven of his last eight starts.
• Now at 87.2 innings this season, Sipowicz has set a new career-high
• This was Frank's fifth outing of 2019 with two-or-more innings pitched.
• Burlingame matched a season-high with his three walks.
• Bennett's homer was his fifth of the season, tying him with senior Conner Morro for the team lead.
 
UP NEXT
With the postponement of Thursday's games, Canisius will play its next game of the conference tournament on Saturday, May 24, at 3 p.m. The opponent for that contest is to be determined.
 
Tickets for the MAAC Championship can be purchased HERE.
Other MAAC Championship information can be found HERE.
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