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Canisius University Athletics

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Mike DeStefano gets ready to field the ball against Radford on March 8, 2020 at Carter Memorial Stadium in Radford, Va.
Radford Athletics
2
Canisius CAN 3-11-1
12
Winner Radford RAD 8-7
Canisius CAN
3-11-1
2
Final
12
Radford RAD
8-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CAN 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 5 2
Radford RAD 1 0 0 0 1 0 7 3 X 12 14 1

W: DOMECQ, D. (1-1) L: Ritzenthaler, Alec (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Radford Defeats Baseball to Sweep Series

RECAP
Bringing across seven runs in the seventh inning, Radford beat the Canisius baseball team by a 12-2 score on Sunday afternoon at Carter Memorial Stadium in Radford, Va. The Golden Griffins tied the game in the top half of the seventh, but the Highlanders used the seven-run frame to earn the series sweep over the Blue and Gold.
 
With the defeat, the Griffs moved to 3-11-1 on the season, while Radford improved to a 8-7 record in 2020.
 
Highlighting the day were Radford's J.D Mundy and Will Harless with three hits each, including Mundy launching grand slam during that big seventh inning. Freshman Mike DeStefano did his part for Canisius, tallying a double and an RBI in his second-straight two-hit performance.
 
Canisius struck first, as a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the opening inning allowed senior Andy Leader to score and put the Griffs up, 1-0. Radford also picked up a run in the bottom of the first, as Colby Higgerson picked up his ninth hit of the weekend with a single that plated Anthony Galati.
 
The Highlanders took the lead in the fifth, as Garrett Matheny was able to get on via a hit-by-pitch to lead off the frame, later scoring on a Canisius error.
 
The Blue and Gold tied it up in the seventh thanks to DeStefano, as the freshman took advantage of a two-out Canisius rally. A single from redshirt-sophomore Mike Steffan and a walk to fellow redshirt-sophomore Mike Mazzara set up the freshman's single through the middle that brought home Steffan and evened the game at 2-2.
 
Radford broke through in the home half of the seventh, as Sean Cheely's single scored one run before Mundy later cleared the bases with his grand slam. Higgerson then scored on a fielder's choice and David Bryant crossed home on a groundout by Austin Kaplan to make it 9-2.
 
Higgerson extended the lead to 10-2 in the eighth, with his double plating Straton Podaras. Will Harless made it 12-2 with a two-run double two batters later, finishing off the late-inning offensive explosion by Radford.
 
Ryan Bywaters went 6.2 innings in the start for Radford, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits while striking out four Griffs. Derek Domecq got the win, allowing one hit and fanning one in 0.1 innings. Brandon Feathers and Bruce Hudson followed with one inning of relief each.
 
Canisius senior Will Frank's six innings of work did not factor into the decision, as the righty gave up two runs on six hits while recording two strikeouts. Sophomores Alec Ritzenthaler and David Yankowski, along with freshman Rockne Seidel, combined to allow seven runs on four hits in the seventh. Senior Jarod Burmaster finished with three runs allowed (two earned) in 1.1 innings, while junior Jeff DeStefano got the last two outs for the Griffs.
 
Head Coach Matt Mazurek's Postgame Comments
"There are no little things ... only important things."
 
Game Notes
• The all-time series between the two teams moves to 6-0 in favor of Radford.
• Leader's two-hit contest on Sunday was his fifth multi-hit game of the season.
• Frank has posted three-straight starts of six-or-more innings with two runs allowed or less.
• Mundy's grand slam is the first against Canisius since March 17, 2019, when Indiana's Drew Ashley hit a bases-clearing homer.
• Mazzara has now recorded multiple walks in three different contests this year.
 
Up Next
Canisius makes the trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a four-game series with No. 16/10 Michigan (D1Baseball/Baseball America) March 13-15. The first pitch of the series opener is slated for 4 p.m.
 
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