CSI's Kaitlyn Flynn went 5-for-6 with four RBI in the two games against Old Westbury

The College of Staten Island women’s softball team earned a their second doubleheader split in as many days, this time doing it against SUNY-Old Westbury at the CSI Softball Complex under the lights.  CSI won the opener, 5-3, before squandering a 2-0 lead and falling, 4-2, in the nightcap.  The split moved CSI to 7-11 overall, while the Panthers evened at 12-12.

In the first contest, both teams wasted little time denting the scoring column.  Off of CSI starter Danielle Ponsiglione, Old Westbury tallied first on an Alyssa Clancy single, scoring Marissa Brightman, who doubled two plays earlier.  Working out of a two-on, two-out jam, CSI then got their turn in the first and took a lead that it would never surrender.

Against Deborah Ciccarelli, CSI’s Kristi Dillon earned on via error, and Brittany Smith followed with a single.  After both stole bases, CSI’s RBI leader, Kaitlyn Flynn belted a two-RBI triple to deep right-center, giving CSI a 2-1 edge.  During the next at-bat, Flynn was able to come in via a wild pitch, giving the Dolphins a 3-1 edge.  The lead grew to 4-1 one inning later, when a Dillon seeing eye single plated Victoria Procopio, who gained a leadoff infield single to start the frame. 

Old Westbury got closer in the third inning, touching Ponsiglione for three doubles in the frame, part of four surrendered on the day by the Dolphins in the opener.  Jessica Colucci and Lauren Isaac’s two-baggers provided the scoring, and even though Ponsiglione worked out of trouble, CSI’s lead was down to 4-3. 

CSI gained an insurance run in bottom of the fifth, and from there Ponsiglione appeared to be untouchable, retiring the final 13 batters in order and getting the complete game win, allowing three runs on seven hits, fanning four.  The top of the order for the Dolphins was outstanding in game one, going 7-for-9 with three RBI and four runs scored.  The rest of the CSI lineup went 1-for-17 against losing pitching Ciccarelli, who tossed six innings, fanning two.

Old Westbury got even in game two via come-from-behind fashion.  In quick moving frames, CSI’s Procopio got her first career start and impressed, going stride for stride with the Panthers’ Clancy.  The Dolphins struck first, going up 2-0 in the third inning on yet another two-RBI double to right-center by Flynn.  The Panthers countered with a Colucci RBI-double one inning later, scoring Jennifer Jean.

Down to their final six outs, Old Westbury finally hit paydirt against Procopio.  In the sixth, the Panthers notched a pair of runs to go up, 3-2.  A fielder’s choice RBI by Isaac ran in Samantha Siegler, who led the inning off with a single, and then another Colucci double scored Issac for the go-ahead run.  Old Westbury added another insurance run in the seventh, and it was more than enough for Clancy, who pitched a gem, going the distance, allowing just four CSI hits while striking out 12.  Once again, CSI hitters were just 1-for-17 after the top three in the order, as CSI was out-hit, 8-4.

The Dolphins’ next scheduled contest is Thursday against William Paterson at the CSI Softball Complex for a 3:30pm doubleheader.