Box Score

FISHKILL, N.Y. -- Canisius pounded out 15 hits as the fourth seeded Golden Griffins defeated No. 2 seed Siena Baseball 8-4 in the Saints' MAAC Tournament opener at Dutchess Stadium. With the setback, Siena drops into the loser's bracket and will face a yet-to-be determined opponent in an elimination game Friday at 3:30 p.m.

Junior centerfielder Dan Swain finished a home run shy of a cycle for Siena (23-31), going 4-4 with a single, double and two triples out of the leadoff spot. He also scored twice and drove in a run for the Saints which will now need to win four straight if they are to capture the program's sixth MAAC Championship this weekend.

In a rematch between the programs that have squared off in the last three MAAC Championship Series, Siena scored single runs in each of the first three innings capped by a Dan Lowndes sacrifice fly to reclaim a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third.

But in the top of the fifth, Canisius (32-25) got RBI singles from Adam Tricarico and Mark McKenna to go back in front for good at 4-3. Ryan Stekl added a clutch two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning to provide some key insurance, as the defending MAAC Champions went on to win their seventh straight conference tournament game.

Kyano Cummings tossed the first 5.2 innings for the Saints, recording six strikeouts. The senior southpaw recorded his 91st strikeout of the season with his final punchout to break Matt Gage's single-season program record of 90 set in 2014.

Mike Elwood went five innings of relief scattering six hits and two runs while striking out five for the Golden Griffins which have won six straight overall. MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year Iannick Remmillard recorded the last six outs to lock down his 17th save for Canisius which is now just one win away from potentially returning to the MAAC Championship Series for a fifth straight year. The Golden Griffins will face top seeded Fairfield in the winner's bracket Friday at noon.