Buffalo, N.Y. (April 20, 2007)?Cameron Norton went 3-4 with six RBI in game one to lead Canisius to a 7-0 win over Manhattan in Friday's first contest, while five different Golden Griffs drove in runs for Canisius in their 5-3 win in the nightcap. Danielle Just hit her fourth homerun of the season, a solo shot, in game two.
In game one, Manhattan was limited to just two hits by Canisius' starter Courtney Piar. The right-hander pitched a complete game and improved her record on the season to 7-4, while lowering her ERA to 1.86.
While Piar supplied the pitching, Norton gave her plenty of run support by driving in six of Canisius' seven runs, including a grand slam in the first inning. Canisius' first three batters reached base in the first inning, then were all brought home by Norton's grand slam to leftfield. In the second inning, Norton brought two more runs home with a double down the leftfield line that plated Katie Miranto and Jamie Gerace.
That was all the run support Piar would need as she struck out nine Lady Jaspers and walked just two on the afternoon.
Manhattan had more success offensively against game two's starter, the reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Week Lindsay Garbacz
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Just smacked her fourth homerun of the year to centerfield to even the score. After Canisius took a 2-1 lead in their half of the third inning, Manhattan tied the score again when Devon Gustafson hit her first homerun of the year, a solo shot to leftfield.
In the sixth, Just led off the inning and reached second on a throwing error by relief pitcher Juliette Bowers, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stephanie Gozdziewski. With Michelle Gutierrez at the plate, Just came around to score on a passed ball, giving Manhattan a 3-2 lead.
The Lady Jaspers were unable to hold the lead however in the bottom of the sixth, as Canisius tied the score on an RBI groundout by Ashley Bonetto. The Golden Griffs then scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single by Angela Turrey that plated Jess Martin from third. Canisius would add an insurance run when Lori Gilbert doubled in Turrey.
Bowers retired Manhattan in order in the top of the seventh to secure the win for Canisius.
The Lady Jaspers will return to action on April 25th, when they take on Fairleigh Dickinson. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
