By Andrew Crooks
This past weekend the Canisius College softball team played two doubleheaders at home versus the Fairfield Stags and the Iona Gaels. The Golden Griffins entered this weekend at 15-13-1 overall and 4-2 in the MAAC.
The Griffins' four games of league play this past weekend would be crucial on their path to repeating as MAAC softball champions.
Led by the Player of the Week in the MAAC, sophomore Rosie Gomez and Pitcher of the Week in the MAAC junior Megan Giese, Canisius would need an undefeated weekend to be tied for first place in the MAAC.
In their first game of the weekend versus the Stags, the Golden Griffins hit a walk-off to take home a 4-3 win. After two hits and two RBIs in the game for junior Christie McGee-Ross and eight strong innings from Megan Giese on the mound, Rosie Gomez hit a solo shot for Canisius to win the first game of the double header in extra innings.
In the second game versus Fairfield, the Golden Griffins were led by a strong pitching performance from graduate Alexis Chruchill in the win. With no earned runs and only one run allowed in her outing Canisius got the series sweep on Saturday with a 7-1 win.
On Sunday, Canisius took the first game of the series 6–1. Led by a three-run homer from junior Sydney Costan, the Griffins picked up right where they left off. With one more game on the weekend they would look to complete the perfect weekend at home.
The Golden Griffins did in fact sweep the Gaels to go 4-0 on the weekend with a 6–1 win. They hit five doubles in the game with a double from each of junior Gianna Fazzolari, freshman Bailey Alatorre and freshman Rylee Alfaro.
The Gaels could not get any offense going with only three hits across the two games.
By allowing only six runs on the weekend, the Canisius bullpen appears to be shaping up to be dominant in the MAAC once again. The combination of hitting at all positions shows the talent across the board that the Golden Griffins possess. At 19-13-1 overall and 8-2 in the MAAC, Canisius has sent a strong statement out to the rest of the league.
The Golden Griffins now will travel to both Saint Peter’s and Manhattan this weekend to continue conference play.