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Canisius University Athletics

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Ella Johel waits on a pitch in the first game of a MAAC doubleheader against Siena at the Demske Sports Complex on March 24, 2026.
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5
Niagara NIAGARA 8-32, 5-20 MAAC
10
Winner Canisius CANISIUS 15-27, 9-15 MAAC
Niagara NIAGARA
8-32, 5-20 MAAC
5
Final
10
Canisius CANISIUS
15-27, 9-15 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Niagara NIAGARA 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 5 5 4
Canisius CANISIUS 1 2 0 2 1 4 X 10 9 2

W: Obenrader, Mikaila (3-10) L: Abbey Steen (2-10)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Doubles Up Niagara for MAAC Win

Back-to-back doubles by sophomore Grace Walker and junior Alyssa Onyeagwa in the home-half of the fifth inning put Canisius up 6-5, and then the Golden Griffins tacked on four insurance runs in the sixth en route to a 10-5 victory over long-time rival Niagara in MAAC softball action Friday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex.
 
The second game of the scheduled conference doubleheader was postponed due to the weather. The Griffs and Purple Eagles will close out the 2026 regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader, starting at 11 a.m.
 
With the win, Canisius' second straight, the Griffs improved to 15-27 overall and 9-15 in league play, while Niagara slipped to 8-32 overall and 5-20 in conference games.
 
GAME RECAP
Niagara scored three times in the top of the fifth to knot the game at 5-5. Trailing 5-2, Niagara cut the Griffs' lead to 5-4 thanks to a ground-rule double down the left field line off the bat of Hailey Cenname, which drove in a pair of runs. Moments later, Cenname scored on a wild pitch to even the score at 5-5.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Walker led off the frame with a double to the gap in right center, and then she came around to score after Onyeagwa ripped an RBI-double down the left field line. In the sixth, Canisius took advantage of three Niagara errors to score four times to take a 10-5 lead.
 
Both teams scored a run in their half of the first inning before Canisius scored twice in the second to take a 3-1 lead. In the second, junior Ella Johel drove in both of the Blue and Gold's runs with a double off the fence in right center, which pushed freshmen Michaela Sycalik and Maddy Hans across the dish. Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Canisius stretched its lead to 5-2 thanks to a base hit to left by freshman Talia Yermian which drove in a pair.
 
Canisius sophomore Mikaila Obenrader earned the win in relief for the Griffs after she went 2.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits to go with six walks and two strikeouts. Niagara reliever Abbey Steen took the loss after she gave up five runs, one earned, on four hits. Combined, the five pitchers that appeared in the game on Friday walked 17 batters (eight by Niagara, nine by Canisius).
 
Canisius had nine hits in the win, led by Johel, who went 3-for-2 with two doubles, two RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. She also walked twice in the winning effort. Yermian and senior Bailey Alatorre each had two RBI in the win for the Blue and Gold, while Walker went 1-for-3 with an RBI, two runs scored and a sacrifice bunt.

GAME NOTES
• Canisius leads the all-time series with Niagara, 104-31-1.
• Canisius has played more games (136) against Niagara than any other opponent.
• Canisius has now won each of its last two games by the score of 10-5. On Tuesday, the Griffs earned a non-league doubleheader split with Robert Morris after recording a 10-5 victory in the nightcap.
• Canisius has scored 10 runs in three-straight games. This marks the first time since the Griffs have scored 10-or more runs in three consecutive games since March 8-9, 2025.
• Johel's double in the second inning was the 25th two-base hit in her career and it extended her hitting streak to seven games, which matches her season's longest hitting streak.
• Senior Sofia Escoto has now reached base safely in 14-straight games after she drew a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the third.
• Onyeagwa now has an RBI in each of the team's last three games.
• Yermian has now driven in two runs in five different contests this season.
 
UP NEXT
Canisius will close out the 2026 regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader against Niagara. Game one of the two-game set will start at 11 a.m.
 
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