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Walk-Off Home Run Celebration
Lindy Feider
6
MANHATTAN MANB 7-17, 2-3 MAAC
7
Winner Canisius CAN 7-14, 1-1 MAAC
MANHATTAN MANB
7-17, 2-3 MAAC
6
Final
7
Canisius CAN
7-14, 1-1 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
MANHATTAN MANB 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 6 12 2
Canisius CAN 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 4 7 11 2

W: Duffy, Aaron (1-2) L: Staiano, MI (3-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Dick’s Walk-Off Home Run Lifts Baseball Over Manhattan

Junior Cole Sebastian and Senior Carlin Dick hit back-to-back home runs to surmount a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning defeating Manhattan 7-6 in walk-off fashion Friday in collegiate baseball action at the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, N.Y. 

The Golden Griffins (7-14, 1-1 MAAC) evened the series against the Jaspers (8-17, 2-3 MAAC) in dramatic fashion, marking their first walk-off victory since May 8, 2022 when they defeated Niagara 8-7 in 14 innings with an RBI single from Dylan Vincent. This is the Griffs first walk-off home run since April 26, 2022 when Jake Zurat hit a pinch hit two-run homer to win 10-8 over St. Bonaventure.

Dick went 2-for-5 with both of his hits coming as solo home runs. Sebastian was also 2-for-5 on the day, driving in the game-tying runs on his three-run jack while also reaching on a single in the bottom of the eighth to score on a double from junior Trent Rumley.

Junior Aaron Duffy (1-2) is credited with the win after coming on in relief in the seventh inning. Duffy went three innings while allowing two runs and striking out five batters. In the eighth and ninth innings, Duffy stranded five runners, getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and striking out two batters with two runners in scoring position in the eighth.

The Jaspers took control of the game in the early innings as Frankie Marinelli walked to lead-off the game, and was batted around to take a 1-0 lead.

Chase Swain added to their lead in the fourth with a solo home run and Vincent Davis later scored on a wild pitch to bring the lead up to three runs.

The Griffs began to battle back in the fifth as senior Ty Wevers reached on a single. After Freshman Tyson Kaufman walked, freshman JC Spinosa laid down a sac bunt that was thrown away by the Jaspers' pitcher, allowing Wevers to score from second. 

Manhattan responded the next inning as Dylan Mayer sent a solo shot over the fence, putting the score at 4-1. Dick responded right back in the top half of the sixth, hitting his first home run of the ball game.

Rumley put the score at 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth as he brought Sebastian around with a rocket double to straight away center field. 

The Jaspers put pressure on Duffy in the ninth, hitting three singles to load the bases. Trevor Santos drove in two to put the Jaspers up three heading into the final frame.

The Griffs came down to their final out in the ninth before the late game heroics from Sebastian and Dick brought around four runs to take the 7-6 victory.

Head Coach Matt Mazurek's Postgame Comments

"Today showed a lot of resiliency in our group.  We know deep down we carry a lot of pride and have fight in us.  Fighting back late in games shows that they have a want and desire to win and just need to find a way and today we found a way."

"Carlin being one of our most veteran offensive players is a huge boost for the younger guys.  His presence on the field is calming for the younger guys and when he performs like he can it makes the rest of the guys go."

"Tomorrow we need to show up ready. Sunday baseball is a battle and execution is going to be the name of the game.  We need to worry about the things we can control and execute tomorrow."

Game Notes:
•Dick has surpassed his single season career high in home runs 21 games into the season. He has hit seven home runs this season, after hitting six in 40 appearances last season
•The Griffs hit a season high three home runs in today's game. The Griffs have hit a home run in their last four games
•Strong increased his on-base streak to 18 games. His career high on-base streak is 24 games set last season
•Dylan Vincent is the most recent Canisius player to hit two home runs in a game. He did this  in a 13-0 victory over St. Peter's in Buffalo on April 29, 2023
•Rumley hit his team leading sixth double of the season in today's contest

Up Next:
The Griffs and Jaspers will battle for the series win tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at the Demske Sports Complex

For complete coverage of Canisius baseball, please follow @griffsbaseball on Instagram and X
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