Freshman Cara Edwards' two home runs were not enough as Canisius dropped a pair of games to Fairfield and Penn State in the first day of action at the Penn State Softball Invitational Friday at the Nittany Lion Softball & Beard Field in State College, Pa.
The Golden Griffins (3-9) fell by a 6-3 margin to the Stags (3-8) in their first game of the day before dropping the nightcap to the Nittany Lions (9-11), 12-4, in six innings.
GAME ONE RECAP
Canisius and Fairfield traded runs in the first inning, with the Stags scoring on a sac fly and an error to grab a 2-0 lead, only to see the Griffs even the score in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer off the bat of sophomore Ella Johel.
The teams once again traded runs in the second inning with Fairifeld plating a run on a bases-loaded walk, while freshman Tabitha von Kolen tripled to bring home senior Alyssa Cloutier in the home half of the second to keep the game tied.
Fairfield took control of the game in the top of the fourth inning, scoring two runs on a double from Anna Paravati to grab a 5-3 lead. The Stags tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth when they stole home to make it a three-run game.
Sophomore Olivia Herrington got the start in the circle for Canisius throwing 2.0 innings, striking out one, allowing three runs on four hits. Senior Toria Kover came in for relief and threw 5.0 innings, striking out eight batters, allowing three runs on six hits.
GAME TWO RECAP
Like the opener, the nightcap saw both teams put two runs on the scoreboard in the first inning with senior Emily Ilano hitting a two-run homer to score herself and von Kolen, but the Nittany Lions would respond back with a two-run homer of their own to tie the game in the bottom of the first.
Edwards gave the Griffs the lead back in the top of the second with a solo blast to left field before doubling the Canisius cushion with her second home run of the contest, a solo shot to left center in top of the fourth.
Penn State took control of the contest in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs, highlighted by home runs from Natalie Lieto and Macy Chamberlin, to take a 9-4 lead. The Nittany Lions closed out the contest in the bottom of the sixth, tacking on three more runs with homers off the bats of Haylie Brunson and Brooke Klosowicz to evoke the run-rule.
Sophomore Olivia Manchester got the start in the circle for the Griffs in the nightcap, pitching 4.1 innings. She struck out three while allowing six runs on eight hits. Herrington came in for relief of Manchester in the fourth and faced the final eight Penn State batters of the contest, surrendering six runs on four hits.
GAME NOTES
• Kover struck out a season-high eight batters against Fairfield.
• Johel recorded her sixth multi-hit game of the season against Fairfield.
• Senior Dani Stefanie made her season debut against Fairfield.
• Canisius hit multiple home runs in the same game for the first time this season against Penn State.
• Edwards became the first Golden Griffin since Gianna Fazzolari on 5/11/23 against Fairfield to hit multiple home runs in the same game.
UP NEXT
Canisius returns to action Saturday for the second day of the Penn State Invitational. The Griffs take on Lafayette at 11 a.m., before facing Fairfield at 2:30 pm.
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