CORTRIGHT THROWS ONE-HITTER IN Canisius' 2-1 WIN OVER MARIST
MAAC Sports
TRENTON, N.J. – Junior righty Garrett Cortright struck out seven and allowed just one hit while going the distance in Canisius College’s 2-1 victory over Marist College in the opening game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Baseball Championship at ARM & HAMMER Stadium.
The victory propelled the third-seeded Golden Griffs into the winner’s bracket of the tournament. Canisius will face the winner of the opening round’s nightcap, No. 1 seed Rider vs. No. 4 seed Siena, at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The towering 6-foot-5 Cortright allowed just a first inning double to Marist’s Mike Orefice. Cortright was efficient throughout the evening, throwing 98 pitches, and 69 strikes. Cortright, who earlier this year threw a seven-inning three-hitter against Albany, seemingly got stronger as the game went on, en route to his fifth complete game of the season.
“I just made pitches when I had to, and the defense behind me did a great job,” Cortright said. “It’s been a while since all of my pitches have worked for me like they did tonight. I hit my spots, and the defense was great. They’ve been doing it all year long.”
Canisius’ ninth year head coach Mike McRae added, “Garrett did what he’s done all year for us. He didn’t look at all tired, and dialed it up when he had to. He certainly dominated (as the game went on).”
Although Cortright notched seven K’s while not allowing a walk, he did hit Marist’s left fielder Steve Laurino twice, the first time leading to the Red Foxes’ lone run. Laurino was hit leading off the bottom of the second, and advanced to second on Jake Berry’s sacrifice bunt. Catcher Mark Brennan then reached on throwing error, which scored Laurino.
Canisius tied the game in the top of the fifth when leftfielder Jesse Kelso walked with the bases loaded, forcing in second baseman Jose Torralba, who had reached on an error. Marist pitcher Chris Bielak, who pitched a respectable six innings scattering four hits, got out of the bases loaded jam when he induced a double play.
The Golden Griffs scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the sixth when catcher Brooklyn Foster led off with a single to left, and advanced to second when third baseman Connor Panas worked a walk. Pinch hitter Christian Segar then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing Foster to third and Panas to second. Torralba was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and centerfielder Mike Krische followed with a RBI on a fielder’s choice, scoring Foster.
The start of the game was delayed by 3:11 hours due to rain, but that didn’t faze McRae. “It didn’t matter at all,” said the Griffs’ coach. “Anytime you get a ‘W’ that’s all that counts.”
The victory lifted the Griffs, who are in the MAAC Championship for the seventh consecutive year, to 40-15. Second-seeded Marist fell to 27-23-1 and will face the loser of tonight’s nightcap in Friday’s first game at 3 p.m.