COLLEGES
Canisius to play for title
First Shayne Willson saved the Canisius baseball team’s season, then he teamed up with Shane Davis to help extend it Friday night at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Trenton, N. J.
The Golden Griffins advanced to today’s championship round against Marist with a pair of elimination-game wins, beating Rider, 9-8, and Manhattan, 3-2, at Waterfront Park.
In the nightcap, Davis pitched the complete game, allowing just five hits and striking out five to earn the win. Willson hit a solo home run and Branson Joseph’s RBI single in the fifth brought home the winning run.
In the opener, Willson’s transformation from goat to hero took just an inning. After giving up the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning, he came back in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off single.
Sophomore Steve McQuail’s two-run single in the sixth put the Griffs seemingly in control, 7-3, but Rider fought back.
Sean Olson’s three-run home run off Willson completed the Rider comeback and gave the Broncs an 8-7 lead through eight.
The Griffs rallied in the ninth, loading the bases with nobody out for Willson. His two-run single through the right side on an 0-2 count scored the winning runs.
Canisius and Marist will play at 1 p. m. today. The Griffs, who opened the tournament with a 7-6 loss to the undefeated Red Foxes on Thursday, must defeat them twice to win the title. The winner will receive the MAAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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