Baseball Clinches Series Over Hartford On Canaday's Walk-Off Hit
BOX SCORE
ALBANY, N.Y. – With one out and bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, junior Karson Canaday played hero with his looping single to left centerfield, giving the hosting University at Albany baseball team a 2-1 victory over Hartford, Monday afternoon at Varsity Field. The series win lifted the Great Danes' record to 7-9 overall and 3-2 in the America East, while the Hawks fell to 9-16 on the season and 4-3 in conference play.
“It was an awesome baseball game and a tremendous win,” said Head Coach Jon Mueller. “Our team worked hard to get the field ready this weekend, they worked hard preparing for this game, and they worked hard getting the series win.”
In the fifth, UAlbany took a 1-0 lead, as Will Miller lined a one-out double to left-center and advanced to third on a balk. With two outs, a throwing error on a grounder to third allowed Miller to cross the plate.
However, Hartford quickly responded with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Aaron Wilson led off with a double to left-center and scored on an infield groundout with the bases loaded after consecutive walks. However, UAlbany starter Matt Gallup was able to work his way out of trouble without any more damage, drawing a fly out to end the side.
Escaping jams was a theme for both pitching staffs throughout the low scoring contest, as the squads stranded 27 runners on base combined. In the eighth, ninth, and 10th frames both sides had at least two runners on when the frames retired.
It was in the bottom of the 10th when the stalemate finally was broken, as Trevor DeMerritt led off with a single through the right side, moved to second on Mueller's sac bunt, and to third when Alex Lushkevich drew a walk, loading the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, Canaday came through in the clutch with his single to shallow left-centerfield.
“We were due for one of those,” said Canaday on his game-winning RBI. “All day we were getting runners on; finally, we scrapped one out. Our pitchers kept us in the game and gave us a good chance to win.”
Reliever Joe Romero (2-0) earned the win, allowing no runs and two hits, while striking out two in 2.1 innings of work. In the starting role, Gallup had a solid outing, allowing just one run and three hits, while striking out five in the opening six frames. Middle reliever Andrew Jaurique threw 1.2 innings, holding the Hawks scoreless and to two hits.
Hartford's John McGinty (0-2) took the loss, allowing a run and two hits, while striking out two in the final 1.1 innings. Starter Brian Murphy went six frames, allowing one unearned run and four hits, while reliever Jacob Melin threw two scoreless innings out of the pen.
Offensively, Eric Mueller led UAlbany at the plate, going 2-for-4, while Miller, Shawn Blake, DeMerritt, Lushkevich, and Canaday each logged a hit in the triumph.
Up next, the Great Danes travel to take on Marist Wednesday at 2 p.m. Previously this spring, UAlbany topped the Red Foxes 7-5 on March 17th.
