CSI's Dan Lynch went 3-5 with 3 RBI and a triple in the 12-8 win

The College of Staten Island men’s baseball team won for the sixth straight outing this evening, building an early lead and then hanging on in a 12-8 non-conference win over visiting Mount Saint Mary College in a single affair at the CSI Baseball Complex.  CSI is now 11-10 overall with the win, while the Knights dipped to 10-8.

CSI had the benefits of a hot early start to guide them in the win, building an 8-3 lead after the first three frames.  After a scoreless first, CSI touched Knights starter Mike Klein for six runs in the second frame, started by a Dan Lynch RBI-single that scored Will Difede, who earned on base with a hit.  A Luis Ortiz sac fly then scored James Lewis, and Lynch scored one at-bat later on a Henry Roman liner down the left field line.  The barrage continued with a George Kantzian RBI base hit which was extended with a fielding error, scoring both Roman and Bryan Moreno, and Kantzian then followed suit via a Frank Smith RBI-base hit, erasing what was a 1-0 MSMC lead off of a Michael Morelli towering homerun over the left-center wall.

The Knights responded with two runs in their half of the third, highlighted by RBI singles from Thomas McNoble and Morelli, who finished with four RBI.  CSI returned the favor, however, in their half of the third.  Lynch’s triple-bagger scored Lewis, and Lynch came in on a wild pitch two throws later, before Klein was lifted.

The teams traded runs in the fourth inning, until CSI unloaded another three runs in the bottom of the seventh frame to take a commanding, 12-5, edge.  A two-RBI single by Difede off of reliever Justin Murphy punctuated the frame.

With time for one last hoorah, MSM put a scare into the Dolphins with a run in the eighth and then another three-spot in the ninth inning.  Morelli laced a two-RBI double for the visitors and scored later in the inning to account for the damage.  With two runners on base and two outs, CSI reliever Robert Jannace came on in relief of reliever Daniel Slevin, and got Anthony Licata to strike out swinging to end the threat.

CSI starter Mike Van Pelt picked up the win, going 5.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, fanning four.  CSI got solid middle relief from Nick Amatucci, who went 2.2 frames, allowing a single earned run on three hits. Smith, Difede and Lynch all scattered three hits for the Dolphins, who out-hit the Knights, 15-12, total.  Morelli finished 4-for-4 with 4 RBI and a pair of runs scored for the Knights.

Having played five games over the past five days, CSI will now get six days off before coming back to face non-conference Kean University on Tuesday, April 3, at 4pm, at the CSI Baseball Complex.