Canisius scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete a six-run comeback as it defeated Rider, 10-9, Sunday in Metro Atlantic Athletic conference action at the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, N.Y.
Â
The Golden Griffins kept their playoff hopes alive with the win, moving to 10-16 in MAAC play with a 14-28 overall record. The Broncs, meanwhile, slid to 20-6 in league action with a 30-16 record on the season.
Â
Sophomore Joe LoPinto picked up the win for Canisius, throwing four scoreless innings to close out the game. He struck out four batters and only allowed one walk and a hit-by-pitch. Jack Ruditsky took the loss for Rider, loading the bases on walks in the eighth inning, which led to the game-winning run for Canisius.
Junior Andrew Marcello led Canisius with a 2-for-3 afternoon with two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Redshirt senior Josh Niles reached base in all five plate appearances, recording two doubles, two hit-by-pitches and a walk as he scored four runs. Sophomore JC Spinosa 1-for-3 with three RBI and drew the game winning walk in the eighth inning.
Â
Trailing 9-3 in the bottom of the fifth, the Griffs began their comeback by capitalizing on the Broncs mistakes, scoring three runs on a hit-by-pitch and two wild pitches to cut the deficit to three.
Spinosa continued the comeback in the seventh with a two-run single that scored Marcello and Niles to make it a 9-8 contest. This set the stage for senior Tyler Hoover, who started the home half of the eighth inning with a pinch-hit home run to tie the game at 9-9.
The Griffs continued to work, loading the bases on a double by Niles, a hit-by-pitch by Marcello and a walk by junior Owen Silliman. Spinosa gave Canisius their first lead of the contest in the next at-bat as he drew a walk to put the Griffs in front. LoPinto induced two quick flyouts in the ninth before striking out the final batter to give the Griffs the 10-9 victory.
Earlier in the contest, Rider took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, scoring on a sac fly, a steal of home and RBI double from Joe Tiroly. The Broncs added three runs in the third with an RBI single from Matt Leahy and two-run double off the bat of Anthony Paskell.
Â
Canisius cut the lead in half in the home half of the third as Marcello hit an RBI double and later scored on an error. Redshirt sophomore Thomas Zwirecki put the score at 6-3 after his RBI single that scored Spinosa.Â
Â
The Broncs responded with a three spot in the fourth as Nick Shuhet and Tiroly added an RBI single and double, respectively, to grab a 9-3 lead, laying the groundwork for the Griffs comeback.Â
GAME NOTES
• Rider leads the all-time series, 42-40, over the Griffs after their loss on Sunday.Â
• The Griffs stole eight bases in the contest. Niles and Marcello both stole two bases
• The Griffs were hit by a pitch seven times, a season-high and the most since Feb. 25, 2019, when they were hit by seven pitches in a 10-5 victory at Charlotte.Â
• The teams combined to draw 13 walks, with Rider commanding seven free passes and Canisius earning six.
• Hoover's home run was his third hit of the season and first RBI.
• Senior Trent Rumley extended his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 12 games on Sunday. Zwirecki has reached base safely in 16 straight games
UP NEXT
Canisius closes out the regular season May 15-17 with a three-game MAAC series against Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara. The series opener is slated forÂ
The Griffs season culminates in a battle for one of the final spots in the MAAC Championship against their longest rival, Niagara, next weekend. First pitch at the Demske Sport Complex on Thursday is slated for 1 p.m.
Â
Like Canisius Athletics on Facebook
Follow @GoGriffs and @GriffsBaseball on X
Follow @GoGriffs and @GriffsBaseball on Instagram
