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Canisius University Athletics

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Thomas Zwirecki awaits a pitch at Cincinnati
7
Winner Canisius CANISIUS 1-10
5
Mercyhurst MERCYHUR 2-13
Winner
Canisius CANISIUS
1-10
7
Final
5
Mercyhurst MERCYHUR
2-13
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CANISIUS 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 7 9 0
Mercyhurst MERCYHUR 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 7 1

W: LoPinto, Joe () L: D. Skidmore () S: Hennessy, Ethan ()

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Rallies Late to Claim First Win Over Mercyhurst

Canisius scored four runs in the seventh and eighth innings to overcome a two-run deficit and defeat Mercyhurst, 7-5, in collegiate baseball action Tuesday at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field in Erie, Pa.
 
Sophomore JC Spinosa went 2-for-3 at the plate while freshman Bennett Cox connected on a two-run home run and two runs scored for the Golden Griffins (1-10). 

Sophomore Joe LoPinto picked up the win as he pitched three innings of shutout relief, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two. Redshirt senior Ethan Hennessy earned the save as he retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. 

Jayden Walker finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and Chandler Powell was 2-for-4 with a three-run home run for the Lakers (2-13). Dylan Skidmore was saddled with the loss as he surrendered two runs in one inning of relief. 

Trailing 5-3 at the start of the seventh inning, Canisius tied the game as Spinosa scored on an error before a sacrifice fly off the bat of redshirt sophomore Thomas Zwirecki brought the Griffs level. 

Canisius continued to pressure in the top of the eighth and was rewarded as junior Owen Silliman recorded a sacrifice fly that plated junior Tommy Sheridan for the go-ahead run before Cox added an insurance run when he crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it a 7-5 contest. 

That was all the support that the Griffs needed as LoPinto and Hennessy retired the Lakers in order during their final two at-bats to secure the victory. 

Earlier in the contest, Mercyhurst held a 3-0 lead in the top of the three before senior Trent Rumley got the Griffs on the board with an RBI double to center. The Lakers answered back in the home half of the frame as Walker singled to right to restore the three-run cushion. 

The teams once again traded runs in the fourth, with Cox belting a two-run homer to pull Canisius within one, 4-3, only to see Mercyhurst answer back with a double from Casey Smith to make it a 5-3 contest, setting the stage for the Griffs late-inning comeback. 

GAME NOTES
• Canisius left 10 runners on base during the contest while Mercyhurst stranded six. Seven of the runners the Griffs left on base came during the first four innings of the contest. 
• Canisius stole four bases and had four guys hit by pitch in the contest.
• Cox's home run was his second of the season. He is the first Canisius hitter to have multiple home runs in 2025. 
• Spinosa recorded multiple hits for the second time this season as he went 2-for-4 in the series finale at James Madison on Feb. 23. 
• Freshman Brian Smith got the start on the mound for the Griffs and went three innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and one walk. He struck out four. 
•Hennessey's save was his first of the season and the fourth of his collegiate career. 

UP NEXT 
Canisius opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Merrimack. 

The series between the Griffs and the Warriors begins Friday at 3 p.m. and continues Saturday at 1 p.m. before concluding Sunday at noon. 

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