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Canisius University Athletics

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JC Spinosa throws out a runner at first playing at Bobo Field in Lewiston, NY on March 18, 2025
Joe Lehrman
6
Canisius CAN-BASE 2-13
11
Winner Niagara University NIA 3-13
Canisius CAN-BASE
2-13
6
Final
11
Niagara University NIA
3-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CAN-BASE 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 6 10 2
Niagara University NIA 0 0 2 0 6 0 3 0 X 11 10 0

W: Hurley CJ (1-0) L: Smith, Brian (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Drops Midweek Contest to Niagara

A six-run fifth inning, punctuated by a Rees Kozar grand slam, allowed Niagara to pull away from Canisius and post an 11-6 victory in collegiate baseball action Tuesday at Bobo Field in Lewiston, N.Y.

The Purple Eagles earned their first midweek win of the season, improving to 3-13 on their campaign while Canisius fell to 2-13 with the loss.

Kozar's grand slam highlighted a career-high five RBI performance as he went 2-for-3 at the plate and drew two walks. Jacob Brooks also went 2-for-3 while scoring two runs and swiping a pair of bases. Jason Green recorded two RBI for Niagara with a home run in the bottom of the seventh. CJ Hurley was awarded the win for the Purple Eagles, going 3.0 innings while allowing only one run.

Junior Andrew Marcello remained hot at the plate for Canisius, going 2-for-3 with a home run in the top of the fifth and triple in the seventh. Sophomore JC Spinosa hit his fourth home of the season in the ninth inning, a three-run shot that cut the deficit to five runs, and redshirt sophomore Ronan Glassford went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Freshman Brian Smith was charged with the loss after allowing Niagara to take a 2-0 lead in the third. Smith went 2.1 innings with four runs allowed and one strikeout.

Holding a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Niagara had three of its first four batters of the frame reach base before Kozar sent an 0-1 offering over the left-field fence to give the Purple Eagles a five-run lead. A triple from Carter Aarts and an error by the Canisius defense accounted for the final two runs of the frame. 

Niagara added to its lead in the seventh with a two-run home run from Green and solo shot from Nate Milk to expand its lead to 11-1 before Canisius tallied five runs in the ninth, highlighted by a three-run homer from Spinosa, to determine the five-run final margin. 

Earlier in the contest, Niagara used a sac fly from Vincent Mauro and a double from Kozar in the bottom of the third to grab a 2-0 lead. 

Canisius was able to cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth as Marcello hit a home run to dead center, setting the stage for the Purple Eagles' game-changing frame in the bottom of the fifth. 

GAME NOTES
• After the 233rd edition of the Battle of the Bridge, Canisius still leads the series 118-114-1 but have lost their last five games to Niagara.
• Marcello's home run is the second of his career and the second in his last three games.
• Marcello's triple in the top of the seventh was the first of his career.
• Spinosa's home run is the sixth home run of his career. The sophomore has already doubled his rookie year home run total with four on the season and has hit three in his past four games.
• Canisius pitching allowed a season-high 11 walks on the day with 10 strikeouts while Niagara allowed seven walks and struck out seven Griffs.
• Junior Connor Waiting recorded the first run scored of his Division I career after pinch running in the ninth inning.

UP NEXT
Canisius returns to conference action this weekend with a road trip to Jersey City, N.J., to take on the Saint Peter's Peacocks. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. at Jaroschak Field.

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