By Isabella Custodi, Sports Reporter
Senior pitcher Megan Giese is the player to watch on Canisius softball, sitting third on the all-time list for strikeouts in program history with 525. She recently hit the 500 career-strikeout milestone during her weekend at the EKU Colonel Classic on March 2.
Geise sits just 16 strikeouts behind Courtney Pair, who is second in strikeouts: Geise is also 158 strikeouts behind Andrea Bunten, who has the most strikeouts in program history.
“It’s still early in the season, so I know there’s more that I can accomplish as the season goes on. I don’t want to be happy with this goal, because I know my team needs me to produce more outs and spin the ball,” Giese said.
Giese has earned the title of MAAC Pitcher of the Year and All-MAAC Team for the 2022 and 2023 season. In 2022, she also received the MAAC Championships Most Outstanding Player award.
The season has barely started and Giese has already hit 60 strikeouts, pitching 55 innings. Last season she hit an all-time high, with 208 strikeouts in one season. Right now her earned run average (ERA) is at 2.93, even better than her 3.11 ERA from last year.
Giese hit a season high with eight innings pitched and 14 strikeouts in her start versus Cornell on March 15.
“This is my last year, so I want to put everything I have out on the field each game to help my team in the best way possible.”
Giese has started in four of the team’s five wins of the season and is expected to continue in her role of the team’s ace as they enter conference play, starting with Mount St. Mary’s on March 23.
Photo courtesy of Cat Wofford