Home runs from Emily Ilano and Gianna Fazzolari were not enough as Canisius was swept by Rider, 4-1 and 8-4, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference softball play Friday at Sonny Pittaro Field.

The Golden Griffins are now 7-12 overall on the season and 2-2 in league play, while the Broncs improved to 9-17 and 2-0 in conference play.

GAME ONE RECAP
It was a pitchers duel through the first three innings of game one between Canisius senior Megan Giese and Broncs hurler Anna-Mari Groskritz, with both pictures striking out five and while only allowing just one hit combined between the two pitchers.

Rider was able to get on the board first in the bottom of the fourth, opening the scoring with a solo shot from Kendall Reda-Fehsal. Olivia Burroughs then doubled down the left field line to plate Maddie Luedtke, who doubled earlier in the inning. Shelby Dyer laid down a sac bunt to score Burroughs, before Jessie Niegocki doubled to score Asiah Bell, giving the Broncs a 4-0 cushion. 

Reigning MAAC Player of the Week Emily Ilano followed up the Broncs inning with a solo homer of her own to left field to cut the lead to three.

The Golden Griffins tried to rally in the top of the sixth with hits from sophomores Sofia Escoto and Madysen Burkey but could not capitalize.

Giese got the start in the circle for Canisius and pitched five innings, allowing eight hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out nine to take the loss. Junior Toria Kover came in for relief for Giese, allowing one hit in one inning of work. 
 

GAME TWO RECAP
Game two saw Canisius jump out a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as McGee-Ross singled up the middle to score Ilano and sophomore Dani Stefanie.

The Broncs answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second on a two-run homer from Luedtke.

Senior Gianna Fazzolari restored the Griffs lead in the third as she homered down the right field line to open the inning.

Rider once again had a response in the bottom of the third, tying the game on a single from Jadeyn Merrill that brought in Niegocki.

Canisius grabbed its third lead of the game in the top of the sixth on a squeeze bunt from junior Hanna Hagerman that scored junior Alyssa Cloutier, who beat out the throw at home to make it a 4-3 game. 

The Broncs grabbed the lead for the first time in the bottom of the sixth, plating five runs to build an 8-4 cushion. Abby Cruz, Laneya Wright and Tristen Wren all recorded run-scoring singles to account for the first three runs of the frame while Merrill plated the final run for the Broncs on a pop out to the second baseman.

Junior Kate Wiggins got the start in the circle for the Griffs in game two. She pitched 5.1 innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts. Kover once again came in relief and took the loss, pitching 0.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

GAME NOTES
• Canisius is now 41-21 all-time against Rider.
• Giese recorded nine strikeouts which vaulted her into second all-time in school history in career strikeouts with 534.
• Fazzolari hit her 22nd career home run with her solo shot in game one of Friday's doubleheader and is now two home runs away from matching the school record.
• Ilano extended her on base streak to eight games.

UP NEXT
Canisius finishes the weekend with a single game against Rider on Saturday in Lawrenceville, N.J. First pitch is slated for noon.

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