Sophomore Ella Johel went a combined 5-for-6 with a double, a run scored, an RBI and three stolen bases as the Canisius softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Furman on Tuesday. The Golden Griffins took the first game 6-3, while the Paladins scored a 7-4 victory in the nightcap.
Canisius moved to 2-5 on the season, while Furman now sits at 3-7 on the year.
GAME 1
After each team scored twice in the first inning, Canisius took the lead for good in the top-half of the third thanks to a two-run frame. Johel got that inning started with a bunt base hit, and then after she stole second base, she moved around the diamond and scored on a pair of passed balls to put Canisius up 3-2. Moments later, senior Rosie Gomez blasted her first homer of the season to left-center to put the Griffs up 4-2.
Canisius tacked on two more runs in the fourth to go up 6-2 on the Paladins. The first run of the inning came as the Blue and Gold executed a double-steal, where freshman Vivi Vargas stole home on the same play where senior Alyssa Cloutier swiped second base. After Cloutier moved to third base on a wild pitch, she eventually scored on an RBI-single to left off the bat of Johel.
The six runs proved to be more than enough for Canisius starter Olivia Manchester, who picked up her second win of the season in the circle after she allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out five in the complete-game victory.
GAME 2
Furman got off to a quick start in the nightcap, plating two runs in the home-half of the first. Canisius got one run back in the top of the second with a sacrifice bunt from junior Bailey Alatorre that allowed sophomore Rebecca Hai to score from third.
The Griffs tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third inning on a double steal attempt by Cloutier and Johel, that resulted in a throwing error by the Furman catcher, which allowed Cloutier to score. The Griffs' lead was short-lived, however, as the Paladins answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 5-2 in favor of the home team.
In the top-half of the sixth, Canisius scored twice to make it a one-run game at 5-4. After Cloutier started the frame off with a base hit, Canisius' first run of the inning came across the plate on an RBI-single up the middle off the bat of Alatorre that allowed Johel to score from third base. Gomez scored moments later on a base hit off the bat of Natalie Quonce, which set-up the Griffs with two runners on and one out, but Furman's Angeline Ricciardi, who came on in relief, got out of the inning by getting the Griffs to hit into an inning-ending double play. In the sixth, Furman tacked on two insurance runs to end the game's scoring and give the home team the 7-4 win.
Sophomore Liv Herrington took the loss in the circle for Canisius after she allowed five runs on eight hits to go with two strikeouts in 3.0 innings. Senior Toria Kover allowed two runs, both unearned, on two hits over the game's final three frames.
GAME NOTES
• Canisius is now 4-1 all-time against Furman.
• The Griffs' six runs in the game one victory are a season-high for the Blue and Gold.
• Johel's three hits in the game one win gives her three multi-hit games this season through the team's first seven outings.
• Vargas' base hit in game one was her first collegiate hit.
• Gomez's homer in the first game is her first of the season, and the 16th in her career, which leads all active players on the Canisius roster.
• von Kolen recorded her first multi-hit game in game one, and her triple is the first in her career.
• Manchester set a career-high with the five strikeouts in the game-one win.
• Cloutier has now posted a hit in three-straight games.
UP NEXT
Canisius will head to North Carolina to take part in the Pirate Invitational at East Carolina, facing off against Boston College and the host East Carolina Pirates on Friday. Game times are slated for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
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