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Canisius University Athletics

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Josh Niles and Trent Rumley jog into the dugout at the Demske Sports Complex against Niagara
Joe Lehrman
7
Winner Niagara University NIA 17-27, 12-16 MAAC
5
Canisius CAN 14-29, 10-17 MAAC
Winner
Niagara University NIA
17-27, 12-16 MAAC
7
Final
5
Canisius CAN
14-29, 10-17 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Niagara University NIA 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 7 15 0
Canisius CAN 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 5 8 0

W: Ramirez IV Max (3-1) L: Staerker, Sam (0-5)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Niagara Survives Late Rally to Defeat Baseball

Jason Green knocked in three RBI on two hits to power Niagara to a 7-5 victory over Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball action Thursday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, N.Y.

Max Ramirez IV aided the offensive output for the Purple Eagles (17-27, 12-16 MAAC), scattering three hits over five scoreless innings to earn the win.  

Redshirt senior Josh Niles homered two times to highlight a 3-for-4 day at the plate for the Golden Griffins (14-29, 10-17 MAAC) lineup. Junior Mason Cisco added a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth capping off a 2-for-4 effort. Sophomore JC Spinosa scored two runs for the Griffs after drawing three walks. Junior Sam Staerker allowed two earned runs in two innings pitched to take the loss for Canisius.  

Niagara plated single runs in each of its first three at-bats, opening the scoring in the top half of the first inning after Vincent Mauro drove in a run with a single before Rees Kozar added to the lead in the second with a sacrifice fly. In the third, Jason Green hit a solo home run to build a 3-0 cushion for the Purple Eagles.

With Spinosa and senior Trent Rumley in scoring position with two outs in the sixth, redshirt sophomore Thomas Zwirecki recorded an infield single to drive in Spinosa for the Griffs first run of the day. An inning later, Niles went yard for the first time in the contest to cut the deficit to 3-2. 

Niagara got some insurance in the eighth inning as Mauro doubled to drive in his second RBI of the afternoon followed by a single from Nate Milk to reclaim a three-run lead. In the ninth, Green plated two runs with a double to give Niagara its largest lead of the afternoon, 7-2.

Down by five in their final at-bat, The Blue and Gold attempted to rally, with Niles tallying his second home run of the day to pull Canisius within four. The Griff continued to rally, scoring two more runs with Cisco's double and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs. However, the comeback effort came up short as Niagara induced a pop out to center to hold on for the 7-5 victory. .

GAME NOTES
• Niagara claimed their sixth straight win against the Griffs with its victory in the series opener Thursday. 
• Niles' two homer runs on Thursday marked his first career multi-home run game.
• After his three-hit effort, Niles needs three hits to reach 100 on his career.
• The Griffs hit into three double plays in the contest, tying a season high.
• Rumley is riding an eight-game hitting streak and 13-game on-base streak.
• Zwirecki has reached safely in 17 straight games.
• Cisco tallied his sixth multi-RBI game of the season.

UP NEXT
The three game series between the Purple Eagles and Golden Griffins continues tomorrow on Senior Day. First pitch at the Demske Sports Complex is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The senior day ceremonies will begin at 12:35 p.m. prior to the start of the game.
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