FAIRFAX, Va. – A big fourth inning by Canisius proved too much for the Big Red to handle on Sunday, March 8 as Cornell softball was defeated by the Golden Griffins, 4-2. Cornell put two runs on the board in the first inning, but were unable to get anything going at the plate for the remainder of the game.
 
With a loss on Sunday, Cornell falls to 4-5 for the season while Canisius improves to 8-9. The Big Red has one more non-conference invitational on its schedule, the Mount St. Mary's Invite on March 14-15.
 
Sophomore Hanna Crist provided the offense, driving home the first two runners of the morning with a two-RBI double on the first pitch she saw in the first inning. Crist brought home freshman Celia Macari, who singled and sophomore Emily McKinney who drew a walk.
 
Senior Brianna Straley tried to start a rally in the seventh inning, leading off the visitor half with a single up the middle, but the pitching of Canisius was too strong.
 
In the circle, freshman Mia Burd took her first loss of the season after allowing six hits and three earned runs over 3.1 innings pitcher. Fellow freshman Gabrielle Maday came on in relief, striking out three over 2.2 innings pitched, while allowing two hits and one earned run.
 
Canisius was led in the circle by Sarah Cantley, who came out of the bullpen to throw four innings of one hit, no run, softball. The Golden Griffins used a three-run fourth inning to its advantage, scoring runners on back-to-back-to-back singles. Canisius added an insurance run in the sixth inning on a two-out single. Erin Hufford had a day at the plate, hitting 3-for-4 with two RBI.
 
Up Next: Cornell travels to Emmitsburg, Md. for the Mount St. Mary's Invitational on March 14-15. There, the Big Red will play four games, facing Norfolk State (2x), Mount St. Mary's and St. Bonaventure. Norfolk State is the winningest group of the bunch with a 5-11 record, while St. Bonaventure is 2-7. Host school Mount St. Mary's is currently 2-17 with wins over Villanova and San Diego.