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Canisius University Athletics

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Andrew Marcello fields a fly ball in the team's first game at Appalachian State - Feb. 13, 2026
3
Canisius CANISIUS 0-2
13
Winner Appalachian State APPALACH 2-0
Canisius CANISIUS
0-2
3
Final
13
Appalachian State APPALACH
2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Canisius CANISIUS 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 4 0
Appalachian State APPALACH 0 0 5 0 1 5 2 13 9 2

W: C. Barozzino (1-0) L: LoPinto, Joe (0-1)

5
Canisius CANISIUS 0-3
8
Winner Appalachian State APPALACH 3-0
Canisius CANISIUS
0-3
5
Final
8
Appalachian State APPALACH
3-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canisius CANISIUS 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 6 4
Appalachian State APPALACH 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 1 X 8 7 2

W: J. Garcia (1-0) L: Rogers, Mark (0-1) S: J. Fisher (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Drops Doubleheader at Appalachian State

Junior JC Spinosa went a combined 4-for-8 at the plate with a home run and three RBI on the day, as Canisius dropped both games of the doubleheader to Appalachian State in collegiate baseball action at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, N.C.
 
The Golden Griffins fell to 0-3 in non-conference play as the Mountaineers added two more wins to their 2026 campaign to improve to 3-0, after defeating the Griffs 13-3 in game one and 8-5 in the series finale.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Senior pitcher Joe LoPinto took the loss for the Griffs on the mound, going 3.0 innings and giving up five runs in game one of the day. Conner Barozzino recorded the win in the contest for Appalachian State after coming on relief of starter Gage Peterson, who recorded eight strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.
 
The top-half of the third saw the Griffs strike first in the contest as the sacrifice fly from redshirt freshman Bennett Cox scored junior Eric Weeks, who worked a walk in the inning and put Canisius up 1-0.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Appalachian State scored five runs to take a 5-1 lead over the Griffs courtesy of three consecutive RBI with two outs. In the top of the fifth, the Griffs responded with a solo shot off the bat of Spinosa to cut the lead to 5-2.
 
Appalachian State would go on to add eight more runs, compared to the Griffs one, to secure the mercy-rule victory after seven innings with a final score of 13-3.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Sophomore Brian Smith got the start in the series finale for the Griffs, while freshman Mark Rogers came on in relief and took the loss. JJ Garcia earned the win for the Mountaineers, and reliever Jordan Fisher picked up the save.
 
For the third game in a row, the Griffs struck first in the contest, courtesy of an RBI-single by redshirt-junior Thomas Zwirecki, who drove in Spinosa to take the early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first. The Mountaineers responded in the bottom half of the inning with a sac fly to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Canisius responded in the second as Spinosa recorded two more RBI in the series with a two-run single to left field to give the Griffs the 3-1 lead. Once again, Appalachian State responded in the bottom half of the inning with another sac fly to cut the Griffs lead to 3-2.
 
Zwirecki tallied his first home run of the new campaign with a solo shot to left in the top of the third, and redshirt sophomore Tyson Kaufman later extended the lead by swiping third and coming around to score on an error to make it 5–2.
 
The Mountaineers would go on to score six unanswered runs as the Griffs fell in the series finale with a final score of 8-5.
 
GAME NOTES
• Saturday's sweep marked the second season in a row the Griffs dropped all three games of their first series.
• The Mountaineers improved their series record to 8-7 over Canisius.
• Spinosa and Zwirecki recorded the first two home runs of the Griffs season with their solo shots.
• Zwirecki finished the series with a .400 average with his one home run and three RBI.
• Freshman Blake Herman, Mark Rogers and Trent Rudge all made their collegiate debuts with appearances in the series finale.
 
UP NEXT
The Griffs are back in action next weekend as they travel to Greensboro, N.C., to take on UNCG in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 4 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
 
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