After rain delayed the start of Game 2 a few days, the Crusaders eventually got onto the field and into the final of the Georgetown Cup, defeating St. Francis 4-2 in an extra inning.

The Crusaders found themselves in a hole early as the Red Raiders took a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Despite getting several Crusaders on base throughout the game, Canisius was unable to bring any home for much of the contest. 

After St. Francis took a 2-0 lead on an error in the bottom of the fifth, it looked as if both teams would need a decisive Game 3 to decide who would advance to the Georgetown Cup. In the top of the 7th inning, needing clutch plays to keep the game alive, several Crusader seniors stepped up to the plate and delivered.

Jeremy Sagun '22 started the 7th inning off with a single, just beating the throw to first base. Then, Victor Mazzara '22 worked the count, fouling off a couple balls, before taking a walk to first base. With two men on, Charlie Gill '23 laid down a great sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Drew Podlas '22 proceeded to load up the bases with a walk of his own. Needing two runs to continue the game, Tommy Lynch '22 brought one home as he grounded into a fielder's choice.

As it seemingly has throughout the season, the pivotal moment of the game came down to the bat of Gavin D'Amico '22. Looking to redeem himself after the throwing error in the 5th resulted in an extra St. Francis run, D'Amico was patient at the plate as the first three pitches went Ball 1, Ball 2, and Ball 3. The Red Raider pitcher got himself back into the count with a strike, and the fifth pitch led to a full count as D'Amico fouled off. Two outs, full count, final frame...D'Amico made contact with the ball, and as it soared throught the infield, the St. Francis shortstop looked to make a play. But the bat of Gavin D'Amico once again proved too strong for the opposition, and the ball quickly passed through the infield out to the left fielder, and in doing so, D'Amico brought home Mazzara to tie the game at 2-2.

The Crusaders would hold strong in the bottom of the 7th as Will Enright '22 came in to pitch for Canisius and took out the Red Raider batters on a groundout, strikeout, and fly out.

In the 8th, the bottom of the lineup made the plays the team needed as Aaron Jones '24 got on base with a single, advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt from Mikey Doctor '23, Jameson Chalupka '23 singled to score Jones, and then Podlas doubled to score Chalupka.

With a 4-2 lead, the Crusader defense made the plays they needed to in the bottom of the 8th to seal victory for Canisius.

Canisius advances to the 2022 Georgetown Cup against St. Joe's. The schedule for the best-of-three series and link for tickets is as follows:

Game 1
at Canisius College
Friday 6/3 @ 5pm
PURCHASE TICKETS

Game 2
at Canisius College
Saturday 6/4 @ Noon
PURCHASE TICKETS

Game 3 (if necessary)
at Canisius College
Sunday 6/5 @ Noon
PURCHASE TICKETS

Tickets are $7/presale or $10/gate. All attendees must purchase a ticket; no passes can be honored.