Baseball

Manhattan, Quinnipiac, and Canisius Pick Up Wins on Day One of the 2023 MAAC Baseball Championship

POMONA, NY (May 24, 2023) – The 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball Championship opened up on Wednesday, May 24 at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY. No. 6 Manhattan College, No. 4 Quinnipiac University, and No. 3 Canisius College all advanced to day two of the championship following wins on opening day.
 
No. 6 Manhattan 17 | No. 3 Canisius 3 (7 innings)
Clover Stadium | POMONA, NY
Box Score
 
For the second straight season, the MAAC Championship opening game began with a 10-run rule decision, ending after seven innings with the No. 6 Manhattan Jaspers (22-32) scoring the upset win over defending MAAC Champions, No. 3 Canisius College (24-24-1). After being deadlocked at three runs apiece through five innings, the Jaspers poured on 14 runs over the next two innings, highlighted by a nine-run sixth inning, to earn the 17-3 victory. During the rally, Manhattan connected on nine hits, which featured a three-run blast to right center by Trevor Santos, which extended the lead at the time to 12-3.
 
Manhattan Notes and Notables
  • All nine starters for the Jaspers scored at least one run in the blowout win, while eight of the nine recorded at least one hit for a total of 14 hits, and seven out of the nine batted in at least one run.
  • Leading the offensive prowess for Manhattan was Pete Durocher (3-for-5), Frankie Marinelli (2-for-5), Jacob Radziewicz (3-for-4), and Trevor Hansen (2-for-5), all recording a multi-hit performance.
  • Santos accounted for a trio of runs and RBIs, courtesy of his three-run dinger in the sixth.
  • Durocher matched Santos with three RBIs, while scoring a pair of runs, while Radziewicz plated three runs and hit two RBIs.
  • The 17 runs tied the team’s season-high, which matched their run output against Hartford on March 18.
  • Jack Mahoney (3-1) picked up the decision in relief, pitching 4.2 shutout innings, with six strikeouts, while only allowing two hits.
  • The Jaspers advance to the next round of the championship and will face No. 1 Fairfield University at 11:00 am tomorrow morning.
Canisius Notes and Notables
  • Canisius only recorded three hits as a team in the defeat, with Max Grant, Mike DeStefano, and Jackson Strong earning one hit apiece.
  • Grant and Strong along with Dylan Vincent crossed home plate for the three runs, while Grant and Kyle Kush each had an RBI.
  • Canisius starter, 2023 MAAC Pitcher of the Year, Matt Duffy, went four innings, allowing three earned runs, while striking out six batters.
  • Joe Abramson (1-1) was the losing pitcher out of the bullpen, giving up three earned runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work.
No. 4 Quinnipiac 13 | No. 5 Niagara 2 (7 innings)
Clover Stadium | POMONA, NY
Box Score

The second game of the opening round was also decided by mercy rule, with No. 4 Quinnipiac (29-24) topping No. 5 Niagara University (24-21-1), 13-2. After the Purple Eagles scored one run in the top half of the first, the Bobcats responded with a pair of homers in the bottom of the inning, with Sebastian Mueller sending a solo shot to right center followed by a two-run bomb to left field by Keegan O’Connor. Quinnipiac would extend its lead to 9-1 following a five-run fourth inning that featured Mueller hitting his second home run of the day – a three-run dinger over the left center wall – which gave the Bobcats an eight-run cushion. Niagara got a run back in the top of the sixth, but Quinnipiac rallied again in the bottom of the frame, plating four and securing the 13-2 triumph.
 
Quinnipiac Notes and Notables
  • Quinnipiac ace and All-MAAC First Team member, Kevin Seitter (8-4), pitched a complete game, striking out nine, and only allowing one earned run on five hits.
  • At the plate, Matt Tesoriero went a perfect 3-for-3 and scored three runs, while Mueller was 3-for-4 and led the team with five RBI and four runs.
  • O’Connor added a trio of RBIs, crossed home once, and McGwire Tuffy chipped in offensively with two runs and a one RBI.
  • Mueller’s home runs were the 17th and 18th of the season for him.
  • The Bobcats will take on No. 2 Rider University in the next round with first pitch set for 3:00 pm tomorrow afternoon.
Niagara Notes and Notables
  • Nick Groves and Cole O’Connor were two out of four hitters for the Purple Eagle to record a hit in the contest, with the duo also scoring the team’s two runs.
  • Niagara used a quartet of pitchers in the defeat, including starter Marcus Cashman (3-2) who went 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits.
  • Groves tied the MAAC record for walks in a season (56) additionally in the game.
No. 3 Canisius 6 | No. 5 Niagara 2
Clover Stadium | POMONA, NY
Box Score
 
The opening round’s night cap featured an elimination contest between Western New York rivals, No. 3 Canisius and No. 5 Niagara. In the win-or-go home game, the Griffs beat the Purple Eagles 6-2, keeping their title defense alive. The game turned in favor of Canisius in the bottom of the third, led by Mike DeStefano, who drove in the go-ahead run by way of a single through the right side, followed by scoring the inning’s second run on a wild pitch. The Griffs would add three more, while only giving up one to take the four-run win.
 
Canisius Notes and Notables
  • DeStefano was 3-of-4 at the plate, with the RBI and one run.
  •  Dylan Vincent went 2-for-5 and crossed home plate a pair of times, while Max Grant, Jackson Strong, and Kenny Dodson each delivered an RBI.
  • Justin Giuliano (3-4) was the victorious pitcher, tossing three innings, striking out four and only giving up one run on two hits.
  • Canisius resumes play tomorrow evening at 7:00 pm and will take on the lowest non-advancing seed from game 4 or 5.
Niagara Notes and Notables
  • Matt Ward was the lone Purple Eagle to record multiple hits, connecting on 2-of-3 at bats.
  • Ward drove in one of Niagara’s runs and scored the other, while Josh Marchese earned the other RBI and Vincent Mauro scored the additional run.
  • Nick Groves drew his 57th walk of the season, setting the MAAC single-season record.
  • Starting pitcher, Ryan Minckler (0-9) went 2.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned), in the loss.
For all information regarding the 2023 MAAC Baseball Championship, please visit maacsports.com/baseball.
 
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 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
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