CS's Richard Anderson improved his record to 7-2 by tossing a complete game six-hit win over No. 4 Salisbury
The College of Staten Island men’s baseball team scored what is arguably their most impressive win of the season today, turning back No. 4 Salisbury University in the first game of a twinbill in Maryland, 4-2, in eight innings, before dropping game two, 6-2. For the Dolphins, it was their first win ever against the perennially nationally-ranked Seagulls in 16 total tries. The Dolphins upped their overall mark to 25-11, while the Seagulls now hold a 29-7 overall mark.
Richard Anderson went the distance for the Dolphins in the eight-inning, game one, win. The senior stayed neck and neck with Salisbury hurler Brett Collacch through the first three frames, as the score was dead-locked at 0-0.
CSI then struck in the fourth. Will DiFede started the frame with a single, and after stealing second, was able to take third after a fly-ball out by Robert Bernardo. Freshman John Baggs then grounded to second base, allowing DiFede to come home and stake the visitors to a 1-0 edge. Anderson was able to retire the Seagulls in the bottom of the frame, but SU was able to take over the lead in the fifth.
Austin Barefoot doubled to start the frame and Anderson then hit Bobby Sanzone with a pitch. The Dolphins then recorded two outs, one of them wiping out Barefoot going to third. With runners at first and second, the duo was moved one base due to a passed ball, and then up stepped Bill Root, who lined a single up the middle plating two, and giving SU the 2-1 edge.
Down to their final six outs and facing reliever Danny Druzgala, CSI was able to rally in the sixth. DiFede again got things started with a two-out double, then advanced to third on a wild pitch one out later. A throwing error on the following at-bat, off of the bat of Baggs allowed Difede to score, knotting the game up at 2-2. Anderson retired SU in order in both the sixth and seventh, moving the game into extra innings.
CSI wasted no time from there. In the eighth, Bryan Moreno got things started with a single, and was able to move all the way to third on another fielder’s choice infield error, which allowed Joseph Palmeri to also take first base. The Seagulls then gave Chris Ramanauskas an intentional pass to load the bases with nobody out. DiFede then capped his day with a two-RBI single that made the score, 4-2.
CSI would not score from there, but they didn’t need to. Anderson was brilliant in the eighth, allowing a pair of base hits with two out but then rallying to record the final out and preserve the win, allowing just six hits while fanning five. Druzgala took the loss, going 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on three hits, fanning two. DiFede was the offensive hero, going 3-4 with a pair of RBI and runs scored.
In the second contest, CSI wasn’t as fortunate, however, as the Seagulls shined. The home team plated three first inning runs off of starter Michael Fitzpatrick to a take a 3-0 lead after a frame. The Dolphins got a run back in the third, when David Carles singled, then stole second and third, and came in to score on a wild pitch. SU, however, answered with two runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead, powered by a solo homerun from Evan Graci.
Carles struck again in the fifth inning, plating Baggs on an RBI single to make it 5-2, but again SU made up the ground with a digit in their turn of the fifth, making it 6-2.
SU starter Dylan Anderson pitched a gem, going to 6.1 innings, allowing two runs (neither earned) on two hits, fanning a pair. After walking a pair with one out in the seventh, he was relieved in place of Kyle Hanby, who recorded a double play to record the save. SU out-hit CSI in the second game, 8-3.
The Dolphins will next be in action tomorrow afternoon as part of Senior Day. CSI will host John Jay College for a single, nine-inning, game at 1pm.
