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Rocco Panepinto celebrates his home run against Merrimack - March 21, 2026
Lindy Feider
3
Merrimack MERRIMAC 9-9
14
Winner Canisius CANISIUS 4-13
Merrimack MERRIMAC
9-9
3
Final
14
Canisius CANISIUS
4-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Merrimack MERRIMAC 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 5 2
Canisius CANISIUS 0 3 4 1 0 5 0 1 X 14 12 0

W: LoPinto, Joe (1-3) L: Hunkele Nick (0-3)

3
Merrimack MERRIMAC 9-10
5
Winner Canisius CANISIUS 5-13
Merrimack MERRIMAC
9-10
3
Final
5
Canisius CANISIUS
5-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Merrimack MERRIMAC 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 1
Canisius CANISIUS 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 X 5 4 2

W: Rogers, Mark (2-1) L: Loper Bobby (0-1) S: Hageman, Jacob (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Merrimack

Freshman Rocco Panepinto went a combined 3-for-7 at the plate with a home run and five RBI on the day to spark Canisius to a doubleheader sweep against Merrimack in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at the Demske Sports Complex Saturday in Buffalo, N.Y.
 
The Golden Griffins posted a 14-3 victory in game one and recorded a 5-3 win in the series finale to improve to 5-13 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Warriors fell to 9-10 overall and 5-4 in the MAAC. 
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Junior Joe LoPinto picked up his first win of the season, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just three runs while striking out two. Nick Hunkele was credited with the loss for the Warriors after going just 2.1 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits.
 
The Griffs plated the game's first three runs in the second inning as Panepinto recorded a two-run triple, followed by a sac fly from sophomore Brayden Hy.
 
The following frame saw junior Eric Weeks add to the lead with an RBI single, followed by Panepinto recording his third RBI of the day on a single as the Griffs scored two more runs on a bases-loaded wild pitch and an RBI from senior Owen Silliman to make it a 7-0 game.
 
Merrimack chipped into the lead in the fourth, plating one run on an RBI double from Christian Scanlon, but the Griffs regained their seven-run lead as Weeks picked up his second hit of the day with an RBI single to make it 8-1.
 
The Warriors recorded two more runs in the top half of the fifth as Matt DeShiro ripped a one-run double to right and later scored on a wild pitch, making it a 8-3 game.
 
The Griffs put the game out of reach in the sixth, scoring five runs on four bases-loaded walks along with a wild pitch to push the Golden Griffins' advantage to 10.
 
Weeks closed out the scoring in the bottom of the eighth, as an RBI single from Weeks secured the 11-run victory.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Freshman Mark Rogers picked up his second win of the season, improving to 2-1 after going six innings and tallying five strikeouts. Junior Jacob Hageman was credited with his second save of the campaign, allowing just one hit and striking out six in three innings of work.
 
Bobby Loper was credited with the loss for the Warriors, allowing three runs in just one inning of relief work.
 
Redshirt freshman Bennett Cox continued the offensive output for the Griffs in game two, posting an RBI single to center to give Canisius the early 1-0 advantage in the first.
 
Merrimack took the lead in the third and fourth innings, plating three runs on a sac fly from Joey Frammartino, followed by an error and bases-loaded groundout that made it a 3-1 ballgame.
 
Panepinto continued to swing the hot bat in game two, lifting a solo shot to center to make it a one-run game.
 
The Griffs took the lead in the sixth as redshirt junior Thomas Zwirecki recorded an RBI single, followed by a bases-loaded walk from senior Mason Cisco and Panepinto's second RBI of the game on a sac fly to grab a 5-3 lead. Hageman closed the door, allowing one hit while striking out six out the 5-3 series-clinching win.
 
GAME NOTES
• Canisius improved to 4-3 in the all-time series against Merrimack with Saturday's doubleheader sweep.
• Panepinto recorded his first career multi-hit game in game one and his first career home run with his blast in game two. Panepinto also led the Griffs lineup with five RBI over the two games.
• Weeks recorded a career high four hits, to go along with three RBI in game one, highlighted by two doubles.
• Roger's five strikeouts on the mound in game two mark the most in a single game in his collegiate career.
• Hageman also impressed on the mound, recording his most strikeouts in a Griffs uniform with six. Hageman has also allowed just two hits in his last 6.1 innings of work.
• The Griffs pitching staff recorded 16 total strikeouts in the doubleheader, compared to the Warriors nine.
• Merrimack's pitching staff hit eight batters in the doubleheader, tallying five in game one.
 
UP NEXT
Canisius continues its conference schedule, traveling to Lawrenceville, N.J. to take on Rider in a three-game series March 27-29. First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m., Friday at Sonny Pittaro Field.
 
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