KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Indiana State baseball team fell  behind early and never could get the lead as the Canisius Golden Griffens posted a 3-1 victory in the opening game of a three-game series Friday at Demske Sports Complex.

The Sycamores (24-11) and Griffins (21-13) will meet again at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday but the venue will switch to Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, N.Y. The same two teams will also play Sunday back at Demske Sports Complex in a 12 p.m. (ET) start.

Junior left hander David Staggs (5-3) went 7.2 innings in giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking three. Nick Kolarik took over and got the final out in the bottom of the eighth on a ground out.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when Canisius was able to score one with two outs as Jose Torralba was hit by a pitch, Anthony Massicci walked and Connor Panas singled in Torralba. The Griffins added one more in the fourth on singles from Jesse Pushcheck, Jimmy Luppens and Mike Krische.

Indiana State had their chances in the game having runners in scoring position in the first, second, sixth, and seventh innings. However, it was not until the eighth that the Sycamores would score. Mike Fitzgerald hit a one-out double to deep center field and advanced to third as Manuel Estevez singled. Fitzgerald would score the Sycamores only run of the game on a wild pitch.

Canisius added one more in their half of the eighth as Massicci and Panas walked, advanced on Shane Zimmer's sacrifice bunt with Massicci scoring as Puscheck grounded out to second.

Mike Fitzgerald went 4-for-4 at the plate as he has now hit safely in seven straight at-bats. The Sycamore catcher had two doubles and two singles on the day. Manuel Estevez had two singles and Jeff Zahn one single.