BUFFALO, N.Y. – NCAA Division I Canisius snapped a 3-3 deadlock with consecutive three-run innings in the sixth and seventh while capturing a 9-3 victory against Gannon Sunday afternoon in a baseball match-up between two different NCAA divisions.
Gannon went toe-to-toe with Canisius for the majority of the contest. After three scoreless innings to open the game, Gannon got on the board first with a pair of runs during the top of the fourth.
Shayne Herold's (LeRoy, N.Y./LeRoy) RBI double drove home
Aaron Cox (Dorchester, N.J./Millville) with the first run, before crossing home plate with the second run after a ground-out and a passed ball.
Canisius answered immediately during the bottom of the inning on Chris Gruarin's three-run home run down the right field line.
The swings continued as Gannon wasted little time tying the contest during its next at-bat.
Lou Downey (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) drew a lead-off walk, before moving to second base on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored the tying run on
Jared Wiesen's (Girard, Ohio/Liberty) double to center field.
Canisius broke the tie with a three-run rally that came after two outs in the sixth inning. The Golden Griffins added three insurance runs during the seventh to account for the final score. Gannon advanced a runner to second base in the sixth and seventh, but was unable to push either across the plate. The Golden Knights were set down in order during the last two innings.
Wiesen had another day at the plate, recording three hits in four at-bats. Herold produced a hit, a run and an RBI.
David Spaeder (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) started on the mound, allowing three runs on three hits through five innings. The redshirt junior struck out four and walked four.
Ty Watson (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora) pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Gannon, ranked 10th in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region Poll, dropped to 17-11 overall. Canisius improved to 22-10. The Golden Knights return to action Friday, April 19 at first-place California (Pa.). The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.
