QU Baseball Falls to Canisius 8-5, But Remains in First Place in MAAC

Sunday, April 22

Buffalo, N.Y. / Demske Sports Complex

12:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

18-20, 0

Canisius

21-14, 0

Quinnipiac

Canisius

QU Baseball Falls to Canisius 8-5, But Remains in First Place in MAAC

4/22/2018 3:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

Bruce Deckert | QU Athletic Communications

SCORE
Canisius 8, Quinnipiac 5

RECORDS
Quinnipiac — 18-20, 10-2 MAAC
Canisius — 21-14, 10-5 MAAC

LOCATION
Demske Sports Complex – Buffalo, N.Y.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Quinnipiac Bobcats baseball team lost to MAAC foe Canisius 8-5 on Sunday, but QU remains in first place in the MAAC.

The Bobcats emerged from the weekend with their fourth straight MAAC series win this season, taking two of three games from Canisius. Heading into Sunday's game, Quinnipiac had already sealed a series win this weekend by sweeping a doubleheader with Canisius on Saturday.

After falling behind 7-0 on Sunday, the Bobcats rallied to make it a game but couldn't quite complete the comeback. Each team had 11 hits, but Canisius was able to translate their hits into more runs on this day.

In the bottom of the first, Canisius loaded the bases with no outs on two walks and a single, and then came the big blow -- a three-run triple to right center by cleanup hitter Ryan Stekl. By the time the inning was over, Canisius led 5-0.

Canisius added one run apiece in the third and fourth innings to take a 7-0 lead after four. But then Quinnipiac started to chip away.

In the top of the fifth, the Bobcats scored two runs. Junior Kevin Huscher drew a leadoff walk and sophomore Andre Marrero brought Huscher home with an RBI double down the left-field line. After Marrero scored on an error, Canisius' lead was reduced to 7-2.

In the top of the sixth, Quinnipiac scored three runs on only one hit to cut the deficit further. While the Bobcats had just one hit in the inning, they had three hit batsmen. The Bobcats loaded the bases when senior Anthony Cruz singled, freshman Ian Ostberg walked and Huscher was hit by a pitch. Then, in succession, Marrero walked, junior Brian Moskey was hit by a pitch, and sophomore Evan Vulgamore was hit by a pitch – each time forcing in a run.

Without the benefit of a hit, and with two outs, the Bobcats recorded three RBI to cut Canisius' lead to 7-5.

The Bobcats threatened in the top of the eighth when Huscher tripled to left center with one out, but he was stranded at third.

Canisius tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth, so Quinnipiac trailed 8-5 going into the ninth inning. The Bobcats threatened again in the top of the ninth when junior Liam Scafariello and senior Ben Gibson both singled with one out, bringing the tying run to the plate. But that's where the comeback went silent, and Canisius completed its 8-5 victory.

Several Bobcats hitters paced the attack: Marrero (1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 run, 2 walks), Cruz (3-for-5, 1 run), Huscher (2-for-2, 2 runs, triple, walk) and Gibson (2-for-5).

Bobcats junior right-hander Tyler Poulin (3-5) took the loss, while Canisius junior right-hander Andrew Sipowicz (6-1) notched the win.

After first-place Quinnipiac, Manhattan remains in second place in the MAAC, with Canisius in third place.

NEXT UP
The Bobcats return home for a nonconference game Tuesday against the Hartford Hawks, who have defeated Quinnipiac twice this season. Tuesday's game time is 3 p.m.