Canisius Defeats Quinnipiac and Gets Set to Face Siena in 2015 MAAC Baseball Championship Final
MAAC Sports
FISHKILL, N.Y. – Canisius advances to the 2015 MAAC Baseball Championship final to face fourth-seeded Siena tomorrow, Saturday, May 23 at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, New York at 12pm, after defeating the Bobcats 12-2 in Friday’s semifinal elimination game. The winner of tomorrow’s game(s) will be crowned 2015 MAAC Baseball Champions. Siena and Canisius have met in the past two MAAC Baseball Championship finals, the Saints and Griffs splitting 1-1.
The Golden Griffins rose to the challenge to defeat the first and third seeds on Friday to make their fourth straight appearance in the championship finals. Canisius came out of the gate offensively and never took their foot off the gas. Canisius starter Josh Shepley recorded a one, two, three inning to begin the game for Canisus, setting the tone for the night. The Griffs came to bat with two straight singles by Connor Panas and Mike Krishe to lead off the inning. With two outs Jesse Puscheck reached on a fielding error that scored Panas to put Canisus up 1-0.
Shepley worked his way out of the second after giving up a hit and a walk to keep the Bobcats offense quiet. Canisius fired up their bats again against Quinnipiac starter Justin Thomas. Jake Lumley led off the inning with a single followed by an Anthony Massicci walk. Cyrus Senior sacrificed the runners into scoring position with a bunt and Panas followed with a single to center driving in both Lumley and Massicci. Panas stole second on the next pitch to get in scoring position before Brett Siddall reached on an error and a Ryan Stekl walk to load the bases. The runners advanced on a wild pitch scoring Panas for a 4-0 lead.
Quinnipiac tried to answer back with a leadoff double by Ben Gibson in the third and after a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch he came around to score to bring the game to 4-1. Thomas was able to work his way out of the third inning before being chased in the fourth. Panas would lead off the fourth with a walk and Krishe would adance him on a sacrifice bunt. Siddall would continue his torrid offensive run, driving in Panas on a double to right center. Puscheck singled through the left side with two outs driving in Siddall for a 6-2 advantage. Catcher Jack Massa would single to score Puscheck and extend Canisius’ lead.
The fifth and sixth innings were quiet as Matt Lorenzetti came in to relieve Thomas and matched Sheply for back to back innings facing the minimum. Shepley continued to keep the Bobcats silent at the bat, but Canisius would charge again scoring five runs in the seventh. Charlie Murray came in to relieve Lorenzetti and Puscheck led off with a hit by pitch. Massa’s sacrifice bunt would advance the runner to second and Jake Lumley would follow with a walk. A double steal would put runners in scoring position again for the Griffs. Massicci walked to load the bases before Murray would be relieved by Quinnipiac’s Gary Binkiewicz. The runners would advance on a passed ball and Senior came to the plate knocking a single up the middle scoring Lumley. Panas would come to the plate again and deliever a single through the right side scoring Massicci and Senior. Siddall’s single would move runners to the corners and Stekl’s base knock to center scored Panas for the eleven run lead. Quinnipiac senior infielder Vincent Guglietti would homer in his final at bat to bring the score to 12-2 before the Griffs closed out the frame.
Shepley finished the game throwing eight innings giving up one run on five hits and walking two while striking out four. Panas finished his day going three for five driving in four runs and scoring four for Canisius.
For the Bobcats, Lorenzetti threw two and one-third innings giving up no runs on no hits and walking none while striking out one. Guglietti finished his day two for two with a home run.
Tickets for the MAAC Baseball Championship are on sale now at the Dutchess Stadium box office. Admission will be $20 per day for adults and $5 per day for kids 12 and under. All seating is general admission.
For the full baseball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACBaseball