DOLPHINS TAKE OUT YORK TO STAY PERFECT IN CUNY

The College of Staten Island women’s softball team took a pair on conference contests this afternoon, taking down visiting York College, 8-1 & 16-1, in CUNYAC competition at the CSI Softball Complex.  The Dolphins improved their overall mark to 5-9 while lifting their conference mark to a perfect 4-0.  York saw their records fall to 5-11, 1-7, respectively.

In the opener, CSI steadily built their lead against the Cardinals.  Against starter Michelle DeLeon, CSI scored two runs in the second and then a single run in the third frame to take a 3-0 lead after three innings.  A Victoria Procopio two-RBI triple did the honors in the second frame, while a York error, part of three in the opener by the Cardinals did the honors in the third.

CSI then erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to really put some distance in the scoring column.  Catherine Ebro started the frame with a single and was quickly brought home by a Jennifer Bognatz RBI-double.  CSI scored the remaining four runs with two outs.  A Kristi Dillon triple ran in Procopio, and Dillon promptly followed home thanks to a Brittany Smith single.  After Smith stole second base and proceeded the third on a throwing error, she came in on a wild pitch to cap the scoring.

York ruined CSI’s effort for a shutout when they were able to muster a run in the fifth inning.  An Amanda Coll RBI-fielder’s choice was the difference, batting in Evelyn Florentino who earned on earlier in the inning with a single off of CSI reliever Meaghan Teehan, who replaced starter Ponsiglione.  CSI’s senior hurler would eventually come back in before further York could inflict further damage, and recorded the final nine outs to put the game away.

CSI out-hit York in the opener, 10-6, as both Smith and Kaitlyn Flynn posted two hits apiece.  Ponsiglione grabbed the win, going 6.2 innings, allowing no runs on five hits, fanning six.  DeLeon took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits, walking three and fanning one in six innings of work.

Unlike Game One, CSI left little to doubt from the get-go in Game Two.  CSI scored nine runs in the opening frame against York starter Kimberly Barnes, aided along by four Cardinal errors in the stanza.  CSI added six runs in the second frame and another tally in the third before winning the game, 16-1, in a shortened five innings.

CSI sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning.  The scoring was started quickly by Kristi Dillon, who singled, stole second, and then advanced two bases on two separate throwing errors.  After a Smith single, Flynn smashed an RBI-triple to left-center, and came around to score on another throwing error to make the score a quick, 3-0.  Stefanie Solari, CSI’s starting pitcher added a double in the inning, and after the Dolphins batted around Smith stroked a two-RBI double, and Flynn added another RBI single before the damage was done.

Two-RBI doubles by both Taylor Kaplan and Flynn highlighted a six-run second inning, aided along by another four York errors.  DeLeon came in to replace Barnes, but became a victim of the fielding woes, surrendering seven runs with only one earned.  Another RBI-single by Smith, who lifted her season average to .532, accounted for the lone third-inning run.

Solari pitched the win, allowing only a single run on one hit over the first three innings, fanning four.  Procopio was very solid in relief, pitching the final two innings, allowing only a single hit with striking out another four batters.  Smith finished the game 4-4 with four RBI and three runs scored.  Flynn, who was a homerun away from hitting for the cycle, finished 3-4 with four RBI.  CSI outhit York, 17-2.

The Dolphins are back in action on Monday afternoon, travelling to Randall’s Island Field 12 to face CUNYAC-rival Hunter College for a doubleheader at 12 Noon.