Softball Hosts Siena for Saturday Doubleheader

Games 26-27
Canisius (13-12, 3-1 MAAC) vs Siena (19-9, 4-0 MAAC)
Date: Saturday, April 8
Times: 2:30/5:00 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Demske Sports Complex
Broadcast: ESPN3
Live Stats: Through gogriffs.com
Twitter: @GriffsSoftball | #Griffs | #MAACSoftball

• First Pitch
The Canisius softball team continues conference play when it hosts MAAC rival Siena on Saturday. First pitch from the Demske Sports Complex is slated for 2:30 p.m. with both games being aired live on ESPN3.

This marks the first time playing the Saints since the Golden Griffins won its MAAC-leading 13th conference title on May 14, 2022 after earning a 4-0 victory.

Canisius returns to play after Tuesday's midweek contests against Little Three rival St. Bonaventure were postponed due to inclement weather.

• Last Time Out
Canisius started off conference play 3-1 after defeating Marist, 12-3 in six innings and sweeping Quinnipiac by scores of 4-2 and 11-0. Junior Megan Giese pitched to a 2.15 ERA in a pair of starts, striking out 17 batters in 13 innings.

Giese fanned a season-high 11 batters against Quinnipiac, her eighth career double-digit strikeout game and seventh time doing it against a MAAC opponent.

Sophomore Rosie Gomez paced the team with six hits on the weekend, highlighted by her career day in the opening game of Sunday's twinbill against the Red Foxes.

Gomez went 3-4 in the victory, slugging a pair of three-run homers. On the weekend, Gomez drove in eight runs while batting .462.

• Series Against the Saints
Canisius and Siena will square off for the 66th and 67th times in program history on Saturday.

The Blue and Gold leads the all-time series, 45-20, including a 26-5 record at home.

Canisius first played Siena on March 23, 1991 when it earned an 18-2 win over the Saints. The contest is the largest margin of victory for either team in the series.

The Griffs won all three games against the Saints in 2022, sweeping the regular season series in Loudonville by scores of 3-1 and 2-0 and a 4-0 victory in the 2022 MAAC Championship game.

• Hot Start to MAAC Play
Canisius began the conference slate 3-1, the best start since the 2015 campaign.

As a team, the Griffs hit .314 as a team, scoring 27 runs and slugging five home runs. The offense also swiped six bags and posted a .357 on-base percentage.

In the circle, the pitching staff combined to throw a 2.84 ERA, striking out 25 batters in 24.2 innings.

In the finale against Quinnipiac Monday, graduate Alexis Churchill tossed her fifth career complete-game shutout, fanning six Bobcats in the 11-0 victory.

• Up Next
Canisius and St. Bonaventure will 'take two' on their home-and-home series when the Griffs travel to Olean to take on the Bonnies April 11. First pitch from Joyce Field in the opening contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. with both games being broadcasted on ESPN+.

For complete coverage of Canisius softball, please follow @griffssoftball on Instagram and Twitter.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Alexis Churchill: P; 5' 9"; Graduate Student; R/L

#17 Megan Giese: P/INF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#42 Rosie Gomez: INF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#23 Alexis Churchill
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student; R/L
: P

#17 Megan Giese
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: P/INF

#42 Rosie Gomez
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF

Players Mentioned

#23 Alexis Churchill

#17 Megan Giese

#42 Rosie Gomez

Players Mentioned

#23 Alexis Churchill

#17 Megan Giese

#42 Rosie Gomez