BASEBALL CONTINUES ROLL; USES LATE SURGE TO BEAT FDU-FLORHAM

Joseph Palmeri went 2-3 at the plate with two doubles, an RBI, and two walks

The College of Staten Island men’s baseball team stayed hot, upping their season long win streak to an even ten games, defeating FDU-Florham, 8-5, as part of non-conference play in Florham, New Jersey, this afternoon.  CSI improved to 22-9 overall, while the Devils dipped to 12-16.

CSI got on the board early, getting out to a 4-0 lead before FDU would answer.  The Dolphins scored two of those runs in their turn of the first off of FDU starter Jake Hazen.  CSI’s Bryan Moreno led off with a single and was plated by a groundout later in the inning by Chris Ramanauskas.  Will DiFede did the same for Joseph Palmeri, who doubled earlier in the frame.

While CSI starter Mike Van Pelt pitched a scoreless first and second frame, CSI added single digits in the next two innings.  In the second, John Baggs earned on via a double, then came charging around to score on a wild pitch and an FDU error, part of three on the day for the Devils.  In the third, CSI tacked on another unearned run, when Will DiFede earned on via another error, scoring Moreno, who had singled to lead off.

FDU struck back, however, in the third inning.  Down 4-0, the home team used a Ricky Gathen two-RBI single and an Austin Tomaszewicz RBI-single to cut the Dolphins lead to 4-3.  The game then moved to the later frames, and CSU picked up another insurance marker in the sixth inning, when Baggs came in to score from third after a steal attempt by Phil Ciprello from first to second.  Again, FDU had an answer, scoring a pair of runs in the seventh frame to draw even, chasing Van Pelt from the game in favor of Jonathan Aponte.

Down to their final six outs, CSI cashed in, however, in the eighth frame.  Baggs led off with a double, and then took third on a passed ball.  David Carles then delivered the go-ahead run with an RBI-double, and after stealing third, was brought in on an RBI-ground out by Dan Lynch, making it 7-5.  CSI added an unearned run later in the inning, when Moreno earned on via error that would have ended the inning, and came around to score on a Joseph Palmeri double.

The lead this time proved enough for the Dolphins, who despite committing two errors in the ninth inning, managed to hold FDU off of the scoreboard.

Aponte took the win in relief, pitching one-third of an inning, while Richard Anderson took the save after throwing a scoreless ninth inning.  Chris Wirth-Kenyon went 1.1 innings and was the pitcher of record for FDU.  CSI out-hit FDU, 11-7, with Moreno leading the way with a 3-4 performance with three runs scored and a walk.

CSI will be back in action on Saturday, when they travel to face Baruch for a CUNYAC doubleheader at 12 Noon.  The games will be played at Kingsborough Community College.