Softball closes strong weekend at EKU Colonel Classic

By Isabella Custodi, Sports Reporter

The Canisius softball team played four games, finishing with a record of 2-2 at the EKU Colonel Classic in Richmond, KY, this past weekend.

Their first game against Ball State was a 3-2 win improving Canisius’s season record to 3-5. Senior Megan Giese pitched all seven innings with eight strikeouts, getting her within five strikeouts of her 500-career strikeout milestone. Junior Rosie Gomez hit a solo home run during the fourth. Senior Sydney Costan scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Christie McGee-Ross. Giese also hit a sacrifice fly to score Gianna Fazzolari with the winning run. The win against Ball State was Giese’s 40th career win.

The double header on Saturday saw two losses for Canisius. Canisius fell 7-3 to Ball State during game one. Fazzolari had a two-run homerun and three RBIs, but it was not enough to secure the team the win.

Game two against Eastern Kentucky ended with a 9-1 loss. Giese pitched for four innings and had five strikeouts, hitting her 500-career strikeout milestone.

For their last game of the weekend, Canisius grabbed a 4-3 victory against Purdue Fort Wayne, improving their record to 4-7. Giese extended her team lead in strikeouts, striking out seven Mastodons. Costan hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore Dani Ross. Junior Hanna Hagerman had a run-scoring single in the top of the fourth to tie with Purdue. Rosie Gomez had the winning hit with a two-run home run at the top of the fifth, scoring herself and Fazzolari. 

Gomez had her first multiple-hit game of the season on Sunday. She also had her second home run of the season and the 13th of her collegiate career.

Next up for the Griffs is the Penn State Invitational in University Park, PA., March 15-17. Canisius is scheduled to play against Leigh, Cornell, and Penn State.

Photo Courtesy of Ken Morey