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**Game Nine featuring Rider and Niagara was suspended in the fourth inning due to rain and will be resumed at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 28. Rider leads Niagara, 5-3 in the ballgame. ***
 

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GAME 7: No. 3 Canisius - 11 | No. 5 Rider - 9
CLOVER STADIUM | POMONA, NY
Box Score
 
Canisius secured a spot in the 2022 MAAC Championship Series after defeating Rider, 11-9. The Broncs hopped out to a 4-0 lead through three innings. However, the Griffs responded with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth. Rider tacked on one more in the sixth. Rider lead 5-3 in the sixth before the Griffs’ offensive outburst that saw five Golden Griffins cross the plate.
 
The sixth inning got started when Kush got hit by a pitch which was preceded by a Trevor Henneman single that lead to a Mike DeStefano RBI single to score Kush. Vinny Chiarenza hit a game-tying single to left field before Dylan Vincent hit a double down the left field line to take the lead. To cap the inning, Gibson Krzeminski tripled to left center field scoring Vincent and Chiarenza.
 
In the seventh, Rider got two runs back off of one swing of the bat from Socrates Bardatsos who homered to right field, making the game 8-7. The Griffs quickly responded in the bottom half as Max Grant hit a solo shot. The Griffs would add two more in the eighth, ultimately grabbing the 11-9 victory.
 
Canisius Notes and Notables

• Canisius advances to their eighth MAAC Championship Series/Finals for the eighth time in program history and the first time since 2018.
• Canisius has scored 10-plus runs in three consecutive games for the first time in postseason play since 2015.
• The Griffs await the winner of Game Nine of the 2022 MAAC Baseball Championships.
• Tom Peltier earned the win after going six innings and striking out three on 100 pitches.
• Peyton Consigli earned the save in two innings of relief, striking out two.
• Every Canisius starter in the lineup recorded at least a base hit.
• Dylan Vincent went 3-5 with a double, three runs scored, two stolen bases, and an RBI.
• Mike DeStefano finished 3-5 with two RBI and a walk.
• Krzeminski and Kush each recorded multi-hit performances.
• Grant's seventh-inning home run was his 86th hit of the season, tying him for the third most in the season in Canisius history.

 
Rider Notes and Notables

• Brendan O’Donnell went 4-5 including a third inning home run; O’Donnell’s home run was the 17^th of the season which ties Rider’s single season home run record.
• Luke Lesch’s first inning single was the 100^th hit of his career.
• Bardatsos’ seventh inning home run was the sixth of the season.
• Bardatsos, O’Donnell and Brian Skettini each scored two runs apiece.
• Rider awaits the winner of Game Eight between No.1 Fairfield and No.6 Niagara.

 
GAME 8: No. 6 Niagara - 19 | No. 1 Fairfield - 14
CLOVER STADIUM | POMONA, NY
Box Score
 
Niagara overcame an eight-run deficit in the second inning, a six-run deficit in the fifth, a four-hour rain delay and still outlast top-seeded Fairfield in 10 innings, 19-14.
 
After going down 8-0 in the second, Niagara responded with eight runs of their own in the bottom half of the third inning which was highlighted by a Dawson Bailey three-run home run.
 
In the sixth, Niagara trailed Fairfield, 14-8, but Matt Ward would single home Benny Serrano in the seventh to cut the deficit. Niagara came out of a four-hour weather delay swinging the bats well, scoring five runs in eighth inning which was capped by a game-tying three-run home run off the bat of Ward that would ultimately force extra innings.
 
In the top half of the 10^th, Niagara pulled ahead on a wild pitch that scored Max Giordano to pull ahead by one. Bailey singled home Spencer Marcus, Cole O’Connor singled up the middle to plate Brady Desjardins and Bailey hustled and score all the way from first base. Their final run came off the bat of Cole Tucker before Jacob Bruning went out to the mound for his second scoreless inning to claim the victory.
 
Niagara Notes and Notables

• The Purple Eagles become the first six seed to win three games in the MAAC Baseball Championships and the first ever six seed to advance to the final game of the elimination bracket.
• Niagara used eight different pitchers in the ballgame. Tyler Prospero, Steven Hospital, Marcus Cashman, and Jacob Bruning held Fairfield bats scoreless over the final five innings of the game.
• Cole O’Connor went 5-7 with three runs scored and two RBI.
• Bailey went 3-6 with a HR, three runs, four RBI, and a walk.
• Six of the nine starters for Niagara recorded multi-hit games.

 
Fairfield Notes and Notables

• Fairfield concludes their season going 31-21 and 18-5 in MAAC play.
• With his first inning sacrifice fly, Matt Zaffino broke the single season RBI record (56). Zaffino singled home Matt Venuto in the fifth for his 57^th RBI of the year.
• Charlie Pagliarini and Venuto hit back-to-back home runs in the second frame. Matt Bergevin hit another home run just one batter later for the Stags’ third of the inning.
• Griffin Watson, Venuto, and Colin Kelly each had three hits apiece and every starter for the Stags recorded at least one hit in the contest.
• Jason Hebner was the lone Stags reliever to appear in the game and not give up a run.

 
For more information regarding the 2022 MAAC Baseball Championships and to purchase tickets, visit maacsports.com or use the ticketing link found here.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.