Five Things to Know: Baseball Welcomes Iona for Three-Game Weekend Series

Games 26-28
Iona (0-24, 0-6 MAAC) at Canisius (11-14, 3-3 MAAC)
Dates: Friday, April 8 | Saturday, April 9 | Sunday, April 10
Times: Friday: 3 p.m. | Saturday: 2:30 p.m. | Sunday: 12 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Demske Sports Complex
Video: ESPN3
Talent: Andy Helwig (play-by-play) and Griffin Della Penna (analyst)
Live Stats: Through GoGriffs.com
Instagram: @GriffsBaseball | #Griffs | #MAACBaseball
Twitter: @GriffsBaseball | #Griffs | #MAACBaseball

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. First Pitch
The Canisius baseball team continues its four-game homestand this weekend with a three-game MAAC series against Iona.

2. Home, Sweet Home
Since 2007, Canisius has been one of the hottest home teams in the MAAC. Over the stretch, the Griffs have a 166-68 record at the Demske Sports Complex.

Canisius' .709 win percentage on its home turf since 2007 is the highest by a MAAC school. Monmouth, which joined the conference in 2013 and is in its final season in the league, has the second-highest average (.703).

The 166 wins are the second-most by a MAAC school, only trailing Manhattan (167).

The Griffs have posted at least 10 home wins in each season since 2007, with the only exception being 2020. Canisius did not have a game at home that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic halting play in mid-March.

3. Series History
Canisius has a 31-4 record over Iona, dating back to the 2008 season. The Griffs have won 20 of its last 22 over the Gaels during the span.

This weekend's series marks Canisius' first hosting Iona at the Demske Sports Complex since a three-game series on April 23-24, 2016. Canisius swept the series, 10-0, 7-6 and 10-0.

The Griffs are 13-10 against Iona at home and are 12-1 over its last 13 home contests against the Gaels.

Pitching has been a strong suit for the Griffs at home over Iona, posting shutouts in four of the last five meetings. Overall, Canisius has 12 shutouts in its previous 22 games against the Gaels.

4. Thank You, Next
Canisius has struck out 50 batters in its last four games — three against Quinnipiac last weekend and Cornell on Tuesday. The Griffs have posted at least 11 strikeouts in all four contests.

Last weekend, sophomore Matt Duffy fanned 12 batters over six innings of work, becoming the first Canisius pitcher with at least 12 punchouts since Mark West against Saint Peter's on March 26, 2000. Junior Chris Pouliot struck out eight batters in the nightcap of last Saturday's doubleheader, matching his career high. In last Sunday's victory, fellow junior Tom Peltier also established a single-game high for strikeouts (6).

First-year pitching coach Jeremy Hileman has played an integral role in the pitching staff's success. Hileman has aided the pitching staff to post a 9.70 strikeout-per-9-inning ratio, a 1.85 increase from last year's 7.85 total.

The 9.70 strikeout-per-9 ratio is the highest in program history, besting an 8.50 figure in 1964.

5. Top Newcomer
Freshman pitcher Peyton Consigli was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.

Consigli has been named the MAAC's top newcomer three times this season (Feb. 21, March 15 and April 5). A Canisius player has received four of the six Rookie of the Week awards this season. Aaron Duffy was the other Griff to be honored (March 1).

Over two appearances in last weekend's series at Quinnipiac, Consigli allowed one hit in four innings of work. He fanned three batters in a pair of two-inning outings. He also issued one walk.

For complete coverage of Canisius baseball, please follow @GriffsBaseball on Instagram and Twitter.

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Players Mentioned

#19 Tom Peltier: LHP; 6' 1"; Sophomore; L/L

#14 Matt Duffy: RHP; 6' 1"; Freshman; L/R

#25 Chris Pouliot: LHP; 6' 0"; Junior; L/L

#26 Aaron Duffy: RHP; 6' 4"; Freshman; L/R

#39 Peyton Consigli: RHP; 6' 5"; Freshman; L/R

Players Mentioned

#19 Tom Peltier
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; L/L
: LHP

#14 Matt Duffy
: 6' 1"; Freshman; L/R
: RHP

#25 Chris Pouliot
: 6' 0"; Junior; L/L
: LHP

#26 Aaron Duffy
: 6' 4"; Freshman; L/R
: RHP

#39 Peyton Consigli
: 6' 5"; Freshman; L/R
: RHP