Softball shows fight, drops both mid-week doubleheaders

By: Cassandra Ercoli, Sports Reporter

After traveling up and down the east coast, the Canisius softball team remained in Buffalo this week for back-to-back double headers against MAAC foe Siena and Main Street rival University at Buffalo, where the Griffins dropped both mid-week series.

Tuesday's matchups against the Saints were critical to stabilize the Blue and Gold’s early MAAC standings. After dropping a pair to Merrimack this past weekend, the Griffs’ found themselves near the bottom of the standings with a 1–4 conference record while the Saints entered the week at .500 (3-3). 

With the weather sitting at a crisp 32 degrees and sunny, junior Liv Herrington took the circle to begin the doubleheader. Herrington gave up one run in the first inning before going three up-three down in the second. It was the third, however, where the Saints came knocking on the door. 

With two outs and two on, back-to-back singles from the Saints sent in two more runs, including a hit from starting pitcher Gracie Goewey. The added runs saw junior Olivia Manchester come in on relief, giving up a double to center field and sending two more runners across the plate. Manchester would go on to pitch until the seventh inning, finishing the day with four hits and four strikeouts.

The Griffs would tack on only one run in the third after being down 5–0. Goewey gave up just two hits to the Blue and Gold, walking four batters and striking out ten to close out her fourth complete game. 

Just like the Sacred Heart series where Canisius responded after a first-game loss, the Griffs showed some fight in the second game. After a Bailey Alatorre home run in the fourth and a three-run fifth inning, the Griffs took their first lead of the day 4–2. Siena responded, however, with a home run of their own and a six-run sixth to retake the lead 8–4. 

Junior transfer Alyssa Onyeagwa’s two-run homerun, and first since opening day, brought the Griffs back within two before an Ella Johel double cut the lead to one in the bottom of the seventh. With a hit to tie the game, the Griffs were unable to cash in Johel and dropped the second game 8–7, ending the day with a 1–6 conference record.

Just a sunrise after the conclusion of the Siena series, the Griffs faced crosstown rivals University at Buffalo on Wednesday for another doubleheader. Manchester got the circle in Game 1, but the Bulls pulled quickly ahead in the first inning 2–0 with a home run by catcher Bella Smithson. 

After giving up another homer in the third, Manchester’s afternoon came to a close with six hits, five runs and two strikeouts. Despite being down 5–0 in the sixth, the Griffs showed some resilience with junior Rebecca Hai launching her second career home run. Johel would later cross the plate in the seventh thanks to a Talia Yermain double, but that would be all for the Blue and Gold. 

In what was a much warmer afternoon, freshman Mia Preuhs got the nod for Game 2. After pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up just two runs on five hits, the New Castle, Pa. native was a bright spot for the young team over the quick four-game span. Preuhs would record her first career at-bats and hits in her start against the Saints, all while pitching 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs and punching out two. 

After being down one early in the game, the Griffs fought back once again to take a 3–2 lead, heading into the seventh inning. After Canisius failed to extend its lead at the top of the seventh, the Bulls were able to complete the comeback with a deep fly ball to left field, bringing in two runners to take home the series victory. 

Riding a six-game losing streak, the Griffs will look to bounce back at home with a weekend series against Fairfield. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. Saturday followed by a Sunday doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.

Via Lindy Feider