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Box Score 2 BUFFALO, N.Y. – Canisius rallied from a four-run deficit to earn the win in the opener and then used the momentum in the second game to complete the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader sweep against Saint Peter's on Saturday. The Golden Griffins won the opener 8-7 in 11 innings and 9-0 in a seven-inning affair in the nightcap.
Jason Midkiff (Wanaque, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and James Spadaccini (Butler, N.J./Butler) each recorded two hits, two runs RBIs and a run scored in the opener for the Peacocks (4-12, 0-2 MAAC) while Nick Ciocco (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill) posted three hits, a run scored and an RBI on the afternoon.
Tim Kensinger fueled Canisius (8-13, 2-0 MAAC) with four hits, four runs scored and an RBI while Jake Lumley posted five hits, three runs scored and an RBI and Joseph Preziuso recorded three hits, four RBIs and two runs scored. J.P. Stevenson tossed a complete-game six hit shutout with eight strikeouts in the nightcap.
The Golden Griffins scored the final five runs in the opener in the final three innings of the contest to earn the come-from-behind victory.
Trailing 7-3, Canisius scored four times in the bottom of the ninth and then earned the walk-off win in the 11th inning to take the first conference game of the year.
The ninth inning was a doubles parade that helped the Golden Griffins tie the game and send it to extra innings. Doubles by Jack Massa, Preziuso and Adam Tricarico plated two runs before Canisius tied the game with two runs on a Peacocks error with two outs to provide free baseball.
Lumley then tripled with one out in the 11th and touched home with the decisive run on a Liam Wilson RBI single to give the Golden Griffins an 8-7 victory.
Canisius got the scoring started in the opener with two runs in the first after Kessinger scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Ryan Stekl for a 2-0 edge.
Saint Peter's then scored four times in the second to take the lead until the ninth inning. Mike Ionta (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) started the rally with a walk before Ciocco singled to center and Midkiff doubled home Ionta. With one out, Spadaccini plated Ciocco and Midkiff on a two-run single up the middle and Angel Perez (Jersey City, N.J./Marist HS) singled home Spadaccini to give the Peacocks a 4-2 lead.
In the fifth, Saint Peter's added a run to make it a three-run contest. After Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) walked he stole second and third and touched home when Ionta reached on an error.
Lumley got a run back in the bottom of the frame for the Golden Griffins on an RBI single to right field to trim the margin to 5-3.
The Peacocks posted two runs in the seventh to increase the margin to 7-3. With one out, Kristoffersen singled to right and Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) walked before Ciocco singled through the left side to bring home Kristoffersen while Midkiff followed with an RBI single to left field to give Saint Peter's a four-run lead. Canisius then scored the final five runs of the game to come away with the victory.
Willie Krajnik (Lyndhurst, N.J./Saint Mary) took the loss in the opener.
The Golden Griffins then used a strong pitching performance by Stevenson and two big offensive innings to complete the sweep with a 9-0 victory.
Continuing the momentum from the first game, Canisius posted four runs in the first inning of the nightcap. Stekl got the scoring started with a two-run double to right field and then Tricarico followed with a two-run single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.
Preziuso then hit a bases loaded, bases-clearing single to right field for a three-run double and Kensinger and Wilson each added run-scoring singles through the left side to cap a 9-0 win.
Saint Peter's had a couple of great scoring chances early in the game, but the Golden Griffins defense kept the Peacocks off the scoreboard.
In the first, Moore singled and then tried to score from first on Ionta's single to center, but was thrown out at the plate. Ciocco led off the third with a triple, but was thrown out trying to score on a fly ball to left.
Saint Peter's also got a runner to third in the sixth. With two outs, Kristoffersen and Moore hit consecutive singles to put runners at the corners, but a ground out ended the threat.
Anthony Assante (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) took the loss for the Peacocks.
The two teams will conclude the three-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m. John Leiter (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) heads to the hill for Saint Peter's in the series finale.
