The College of Staten Island women’s softball regular season is still in effect, and in their penultimate matchup, the Dolphins registered a non-conference split with FDU-Florham on Sunday afternoon in Florham, New Jersey. CSI dropped the first contest 5-3, before responding with a 6-2 winner in the second contest. With the split, CSI extended to 23-11 overall this season while FDU-Florham is now 14-17.
Despite being out-hit, 10-5, in the opener, CSI was able to secure a 3-0 lead. Stefanie Solari scored in the second unearned via a throwing error and in the third, the Dolphins made use of another pair of FDU errors, scoring Diana Stout and Kaitlyn Flynn. The Dolphins, however, were quick to return the favors, as FDU, down 2-1 at the time, exploded for three runs in the fifth inning off of the bat of Sarah Lima, who homered in three runs off of CSI starter Danielle Ponsiglione. Another Lima RBI-single in the sixth added insurance for the home team, and FDU starter Megan McInaw went through the Dolphins in order to preserve the win.
McInaw struck out five in the game one win, while FDU’s top of the order did most of the damage, as the top three batters went 7-12 (.583) with five RBI and four runs scored. Ponsiglione took the loss, tossing six innings, allowing 10 hits while fanning four.
CSI did equalize in game two, offering up 12 hits to make up for four errors in the field, getting the win for Solari, who pitched a complete-game six-hitter, allowing only the two runs, which were both unearned. Again, it was the losing side that got off to an early lead, as FDU used another CSI error to set up its two runs in the first inning.
The Dolphins, however, stayed the course. On three hits, the Dolphins tallied a run in the second, capped by an Amanda Winant double that scored Jennifer Volpe. Another three-hit inning in the third saw Flynn score when Joanna Tepedino was caught stealing second, advancing on the throw. Solari and the FDU tandem of Karla Babb (first four innings) and Brianne Conanan (fifth and sixth innings) both settled from there, combining to allow only four hits over the next three innings. CSI then saved its damage for the final frame.
With Kristi Dillon on first, Diana Stout singled, and then Flynn earned on via a failed fielder’s choice to load the bases with one out. Up stepped CSI RBI-leader Tepedino, who stroked a three-RBI double to clear the bases, giving CSI a 5-2 lead. With two out, Michelle Ferraiuolo added an insurance marker, scoring Tepedino on a single to cap the frame. Solari, who gave up a lone hit over the final three innings, retired the Devils in order in the seventh to earn the win, tossing the full seven innings, striking out four. Stout (3 hits), Solari and Ferraiuolo (2 hits each) all tallied multi-hit games.
CSI will now have one final contest before the CUNYAC postseason gets underway. Already having clinched the Regular Season Championship and the field’s No. 1 seed entering the tournament, CSI will host St. Joseph’s College-Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon at 5pm for a single game. The CUNYAC Postseason Tournament starts for CSI on Friday. The official draw by the CUNYAC is yet to be released.
