BUFFALO — Gianna Fazzolari woke up Sunday but thought she was still dreaming.
Being a home-run hitter cemented her identity on the diamond, dating back to the start of her prep career at Sacred Heart and Lockport almost a decade ago.
Since her debut in 2021, Fazzolari knew, without hesitation, that becoming the new career home runs leader at Canisius was reachable. After all, spending five months alongside Lauren Castro, who hit 24 home runs from 2016 to 2020, gave Fazzolari someone to look up to and a record to chase.
Three years later, Fazzolari’s persistence paid off in a doubleheader against Saint Peter’s Saturday. After tying Castro’s record in the first game, the Newfane resident etched her name in the record books, with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh of the team’s 9-8 eight-inning win.
Fazzolari hit a home run Sunday against the Peacocks and then in Game One of a doubleheader at Niagara Tuesday for 27 career home runs. But the fact that the record-breaking blast Saturday helped Canisius force the game into extra innings for the win is what mattered more to Fazzolari.
“To be honest, I thought it was a line drive, but, after it came off the bat, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I did it,’” Fazzolari said. “… The feeling was a little different, because, it wasn’t, ‘I just did this and we just won the game.’ There was a game to win. So, it was a great feeling in my heart.”
Establishing the new career home run record at Canisius is part of Fazzolari’s late surge at the plate. After hitting only two home runs through the blue-and-gold’s first 18 games of the season, Fazzolari has muscled a ball over the fence in each of her last six games, tying her mark from two years ago.
On top of that, Fazzolari is currently batting .360 with 30 RBIs for the Golden Griffins this season and is second all-time with 128 career RBIs. But what made Fazzolari a threat is the power she provides at the plate, sending balls over the left or right field fence.
Fazzolari’s home run power comes from a multitude of areas, ranging from being part of Canisius’ power group at practice to lifting weights three times a week and feeding off her teammates’ collective energy in the dugout during games. All of the areas have helped Fazzolari become a well-rounded hitter, including line drives or hard ground balls, from season to season.
“I mean, every time I go up to the plate, I see ball, hit ball,” Fazzolari said. “I don’t think of anything else. I think bouncing it off her hip, and, then whatever, she gives me, she gives me, and I’m just hoping that she gives me any pitch over the plate, because, as of recent, I’ve been hitting any pitch that’s been on the plate.”
Besides the home run record, Fazzolari stands out in the conference ranks for Canisius. Before her home run against Niagara Tuesday, her seven home runs and .732 slugging percentage were both second in the MAAC, behind only Marist’s Miah McDonald in both categories. And, Fazzolari’s 37 runs were only one behind Marist’s Peyton Pusey.
But it’s not the individual statistics that keeps Fazzolari motivated. Any opportunity she can get, Fazzolari is taking the extra swings in practice to help get her or her teammates on base to score runs in games.
“She’s not somebody that’s going to give up easy,” Canisius head coach Kim Griffin said. “… I was throwing BP and she said, ‘What do you see in my swing? What did that look like?’ So, she’s always looking for feedback. … She’s not someone that’s ever going to sit back and just enjoy what she’s accomplished. She always wants more, and so, that’s what makes her great.”
Canisius (11-12) concludes its three-game series at Niagara at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Lewiston.