The College of Staten Island women’s softball team dropped a pair of non-conference tests on Thursday, falling 11-1, and 7-3 in Upper Montclair, New Jersey.  Sophomore third baseman Dana Damato belted a home run in each game and finished with five RBI as did sophomore second baseman Katie Muglia.  MSU is now 18-1 this season, while teh Dolphins fell to 2-8.

In the first game, the Red Hawks erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the second as they sent 13 batters to the plate. Kelli O’Brien, who had two hits in the inning, led off with a single and went to second on Alisha Cumberton sacrifice that was misplayed. Muglia walked to load the bases and O’Brien scored on a wild pitch for the first run. Back-to-back walks forced in another as Stephanie Szeliga got an RBI on the second free pass, making the score 2-0.

Shannon Mozek singled to drive in a run and Jamie Paulino added two more with a base hit as the Montclair lead was extended to 5-0. Amato blasted a two-run homer, her fourth of the year, gave the Red Hawks a seven-run cushion before Muglia capped off the inning with a two-run double for the 9-0 advantage.

Amato added her third RBI in the third with a two-out, run-scoring single with Muglia, who also drove in three runs, accounting for the final run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

Stefanie Solari, who suffered the loss (0-2), drove in the lone Dolphin run with an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning.

Sophomore righthander Alex Hill  upped her record to 10-0 as she allowed three hits and a run in 4 1/3 innings. Hill struck out seven and walked one, just her third of the season.

Game Two saw Staten Island take the lead in the top of the first as Danielle Ponsiglione plated Brittany Smith.

Montclair responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. Paulino scored on an error to tie the game and Muglia delivered an RBI single giving MSU a 2-1 advantage.

The Red Hawks extended the lead in the third on one swing of the bat by Amato, whose solo shot to left field made the score 3-1. Priscilla Camacho singled home a run in the fourth and Montclair tacked on three runs in the fifth for a 7-1 lead. Muglia had an RBI single and pinch-hitter Tara Petrucelli lofted a sacrifice fly for the other run.

Staten Island threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring twice on an RBI double by Catherine Ebro and a run-scoring single by Christine DeCarlo. The Dolphins then had first and second with two out, however Hill came on and retired the hitter on a pop up to end the threat.

Junior righthander Jamie Miller earned the victory to up her record to 7-1. Miller went the first 5 2/3 innings allowing three runs and 11 hits, striking out one. Hill earned her third save. Ponsiglione took the loss falling to 1-2.

Muglia was 3-for-3 for Montclair State while Amato and Paulino each had two hits. Smith went 3-for-4 for the Dolphins.

CSI is back in action on Saturday, taking on CUNYAC-rival Hunter College at 12 Noon in a doubleheader played at Randall’s Island (Field 12).- Story courtesy of MSU Sports Information