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Canisius University Athletics

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Mia Preuhs celebrates with her teammates after she hit her first career home run in a home win over Niagara on May 2, 2026.
Lindy Feider
2
Niagara NIAGARA 8-33, 5-21 MAAC
5
Winner Canisius CANISIUS 16-27, 10-15 MAAC
Niagara NIAGARA
8-33, 5-21 MAAC
2
Final
5
Canisius CANISIUS
16-27, 10-15 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Niagara NIAGARA 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 4 2
Canisius CANISIUS 0 3 0 0 1 1 X 5 8 1

W: Preuhs, Mia (4-3) L: Gianna Graber (1-9)

5
Niagara NIAGARA 8-34, 5-22 MAAC
6
Winner Canisius CANISIUS 17-27, 11-15 MAAC
Niagara NIAGARA
8-34, 5-22 MAAC
5
Final
6
Canisius CANISIUS
17-27, 11-15 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Niagara NIAGARA 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 5 10 1
Canisius CANISIUS 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 6 10 0

W: Herrington, Liv (2-3) L: Ryan Hatty (3-8)

Game Recap: Softball |

A Pair of Freshmen Lead Softball to Sweep of Niagara on Senior Day

Canisius freshman Mia Preuhs went the distance and fanned five in the circle while driving in three runs at the plate in game one, and freshman Maddy Hans recorded a walk-off base hit with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in game two to lift Canisius to a doubleheader sweep of long-time rival Niagara in MAAC softball action Saturday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex.
 
The Golden Griffins took the first game of the doubleheader 5-2 before racing back to score three times with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for the 6-5 walk-off win. Canisius ended the year with an overall record of 17-27 and an 11-15 mark in MAAC play, while the Purple Eagles closed out the 2026 campaign with a record of 8-34 to go with a 5-22 record in conference action.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
A pair of home runs in the home-half of the second proved to be the difference for the Griffs, as Canisius scored the 5-2 win over Niagara in the first game of the day. Sophomore Grace Walker led off the second with a solo homer to left, her fourth of the year, and moments later, Preuhs hit her first career home run, a two-run shot, over the fence in left to give the Blue and Gold the 3-0 advantage.
 
Leading 3-1 in the fifth, senior Sophia Escoto pushed the home team's lead back to three runs with a sac-fly to right, allowing freshman Talia Yermian to score from third. Niagara scored a single run in the sixth to make the score 4-2, but in the home-half of that frame, Preuhs helped her own cause with an RBI-single to left that allowed Hans to score from second base.
 
In the circle, Preuhs improved to 4-3 on the season after she went the distance and fanned five, while allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits. At the plate, she went 2-for-2 with a homer, three RBI, a run scored and a walk.
 
Niagara's Gianna Graber took the loss for Niagara after she gave up five runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out one. Canisius junior Ella Johel had two hits in the game one victory off Graber, while Walker finished the first contest by going 1-for-2 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Hans scored twice for the Blue and Gold in the victory.  
 
GAME TWO RECAP
Trailing 3-2 heading into the seventh, Niagara scored three times in the top of the frame to take a 5-3 lead over the Griffs. A sacrifice-fly by Hailey Cenname tied the game at 3-3, and moments later, Sophia Marrero put the Purple Eagles ahead 5-2 with a two-run shot over the fence in left center.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Niagara reliever Ryan Hatty retired the first two batters she faced before giving up a base hit to Escoto, who advanced to second on the play after a fielding error in the outfield. Walker followed Escoto with a base hit of her own, which allowed Escoto to score to make it a 5-4 game. Canisius senior Bailey Alatorre drew a two-out walk to extend the inning.
 
Junior Alyssa Onyeagwa followed Alatorre's walk with a base hit to left that pushed Walker across the plate to tie the game at 5-5. On that play, Onyeagwa advanced to second, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs. That set the stage for Hans, who took a 3-1 offering from Hatty the opposite way for an infield single, a hit that allowed Alatorre to race home and score the game-winning run from third.
   
Junior Liv Herrington earned the win in the circle for the Griffs after she allowed one run on one hit in 0.2 innings of work. Herrington came on in relief of Canisius starter Mikaila Obenrader, who took a line drive off her foot with one out in the seventh. Obenrader registered a no-decision after she went 6.1 innings and allowed four runs on nine hits to go with four strikeouts and two walks.
 
Hatty took the loss in relief for Niagara after she allowed three runs on four hits to go with a walk, one of 15 walks issued by the Niagara pitching staff in the second game. Escoto, who hit a solo homer in the third inning, went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Walker and Onyeagwa each had three hits as well for the Blue and Gold.
 
GAME NOTES
• Canisius leads the all-time series with Niagara, 106-31-1.
• Canisius has played more games (138) against Niagara than any other opponent.
• Canisius ended the season with a 7-6 record in one-run games.
• The wins on Saturday improved the Griffs to 8-7 at home this season. Canisius has posted a winning record at home in seven-straight seasons dating back to 2019 (not counting 2020 when the team played zero home games).
• The 15 walks drawn by Canisius in the second game are the most for the Griffs in a single game, dating back to the 2000 season.
• Johel ended the 2026 campaign with a team-best .380 batting average. In league games, she hit .415. She reached base safely in each of the team's final 11 contests.
• Escoto's three-hit performance in game two was her fourth three-game hit of the season. She reached base safely in 15 of her final 16 collegiate games.
• Onyeagwa and freshman Michaela Sycalik both ended the season by reaching base safely in their last five games played.
• Preuhs is the first Canisius pitcher to hit a home run in a game she started since Megan Giese on May 9, 2024, at Marist.
 
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