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Canisius University Athletics

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Josh Niles Vs Niagara
Lindy Feider
11
Canisius CAN 0-5
12
Winner NC State ST 5-5
Canisius CAN
0-5
11
Final
12
NC State ST
5-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CAN 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 3 11 10 1
NC State ST 2 4 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 12 14 2

W: Andrew Shaffner (2-0) L: Hennessy, Ethan (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball’s Rally Falls Short in Loss to NC State

Canisius scored nine runs in the final two innings of play to overcome a nine-run deficit only to fall to NC State in walk-off fashion, 12-11, Saturday afternoon in collegiate collegiate baseball action at Doak Field in Raleigh, N.C.

With the win, the Wolfpack even their non-conference record at 5-5 as they took a 2-0 lead in the series, while the Golden Griffins fell to 0-5. Andrew Shaffner is credited with the win and improved to 2-0 on the season after coming on in relief in the ninth inning. Redshirt-senior RHP Ethan Hennessy was saddled with the loss after giving up the walk-off run in the ninth.

Overall, the Griffs totaled a season-high in runs, scoring 11 on 10 hits and two errors from the NC State defense.  Cox continued his torrid start to his collegiate career, going 2-for-4 with a team season-high four RBI, punctuated by a game-tying three-run home run in the ninth inning. Spinosa went 1-for-4 at the plate with a three-run homer in the eighth inning while redshirt-sophomore Ronan Glassford and sophomore Justin Bremner each added an RBI.

Trailing 11-2 at the start of the eighth inning, the The Blue and Gold began their comeback with a six-run inning, highlighted by a three-run shot to left-center of the bat of sophomore JC Spinosa, to make a three-run contest. 

The Griffs continued to pressure in the ninth as freshman Ryan Jones and junior Owen Siliman reached base on a walk and single, respectively, before freshman Bennett Cox laced a homer over the left field fence to tie the game at 11-all.

Hennessy allowed a walk and sac bunt to start the home half of the ninth, putting a runner in scoring position with one out. Matt Ossenfort singled to left, sending the runner around the bases. Freshman Brayden Hy fielded the ball in left and threw home to Jones, who was initially ruled to have tagged the NC State out at the plate. Unfortunately, the runner was ruled safe after umpire review and NC State claimed the walk-off victory. 

Earlier in the contest, the Griffs took an early lead as Cox opened the game with a lead-off double into right center before scoring on an infield single by redshirt sophomore Ronan Glassford to take a 1-0 lead. 

NC Struck back in the home half of the first as Chris McHugh doubled against Griffs starter junior Felix Morin, driving home two runners.

The Wolfpack increased their advantage 6-1 advantage in the second inning as a series of walks and errors were capitalized on by Justin DeCriscio, Luke Nixon and Chris McHugh.

Canisius got a run back in the third as redshirt sophomore Thomas Zwirecki doubled to right center and later crossed the plate on a ground out to the shortstop, setting the score at 6-2.

The Wolfpack stretched their advantage to 7-2 in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch before a DeCriscio two-RBI double in the fifth and a McHugh RBI single in the sixth extended the NC State margin out to 11-2, setting the stage for the Griffs' late-game comeback attempt. 

POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH MATT MAZUREK
"We challenged the group last night to make adjustments and show more will and let their talent shine. Today they responded. It started slow but they had better at-bats all day long to give them a chance and finally broke through late. Tough ending, but there was a lot of fight out of the whole group. We have a lot to be proud of and still things to work on and we will. One day at a time."

GAME NOTES
• NC State now leads the all-time series 3-2 over Canisius with the win on Saturdy. 
• Cox is hitting .476 on the season after his performance today, and has led off three games his season with a double.
• Cox's home run in the ninth inning was the first of his career.
• Freshman Noah Albano made his collegiate debut in relief in the seventh inning. He went one inning and did not allow a run.
• Spinosa's home run in the eighth marked the third of his career.
• Multiple hitters recorded the first hit of their Division I careers in today's contest with Bremner, Jones, Silliman and junior Kadin Miller all notching their career collegiate base knocks.
• Senior Trent Rumley saw his four-game RBI streak come to a close on Saturday.
• Canisius left only two runners stranded compared to NC State who left eight runner left on-base.

UP NEXT
Canisius concludes its series at NC State on Sunday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. at Doak Field. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.

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