CSI SOFTBALL GARNERS SPLIT WITH DREW

The College of Staten Island softball squad had their seven-game win streak snapped this afternoon in a doubleheader split at the CSI Softball Complex against Drew University. CSI pulled out the opener, 5-2, before falling in the second contest, 4-3. The Dolphins are now 13-8 overall this season, while the Rangers extended to 11-17.

The Dolphins spread out 15 hits in the opener, but runs were at a premium for both sides as the teams battled through the frames. CSI touched Drew starter Laura D’Ornellas for a run in the first, however. Brittany Smith singled via a bunt back to the pitcher, and on Victoria Procopio’s sac bunt, Smith rallied past second base and was in safely at third. One batter later, CSI leading hitter Stefanie Solari stroked an RBI-single down the left field line to give CSI the 1-0 edge. CSI’s Maxine Jasko and Christina Tufano both singled to load the bases, but D’Ornellas was able to retire the next two CSI batters to get out of the jam.

Drew used the momentum to surge ahead in the second frame against Procopio. Rebecca Hutsebaut and Lexie Forsell both singled to start the frame, and after a fly out, Casey Reggiani loaded the bags with another single. Amy Benedict then hit a sharp grounder then went off the leg of Procopio, scoring Hutsebaut to tie the score. After a delay, Procopio was able to stay in the game, but Drew struck again. D’Ornellas was next to the plate and the pitcher hit a lazy bloop to third base. CSI’s Alissa Setteducato was able to track the ball well and make a diving over-the-shoulder catch, but Forsell scampered home to give Drew the 2-1 lead.

After going down quietly in the second, CSI attacked again in the third and completed the scoring. Procopio started things with a single, and Solari did the same, but advanced to second and Procopio scored when the ball got behind Reggiani in left field. D’Ornellas was in a jam again when she walked Jasko and plunked Tufano to load the bases. She couldn’t settle in time, walking Danielle Locke, who forced in Solari at third for what would be the game winning run. CSI still had the bases loaded with no out, but three straight sharp line-outs got Drew out of trouble.

The rest of the game was about the pitching effort of Procopio and her fielder’s behind her. At one point Procopio would retire 10 of 11 Drew batters, and the Rangers only posted two hits in the final four frames as CSI hung on for victory, adding two insurance markers in the sixth, with Jasko and Locke scoring RBI singles, part of five in the inning for the Dolphins.

Procopio went the distance, finishing with a single strikeout, allowing two earned runs on seven hits. She also went 3-3 for at the plate with a pair of runs scored. D’Ornellas took the loss, pitching six frames, allowing five earned runs on 15 hits, fanning one.

In the second game, Drew used a steady comeback through the later innings to win the nail biter. After two scoreless frames, the Rangers took the lead against CSI starter Brittany Smith on a Forsell single to left field that plated Jeramie Barletta with two outs. CSI, however, got even in their turn of the third. Samantha Tallerine started the inning with a base hit, and after being sacrificed to second and stealing third, the sophomore came in to score on a Procopio single, knotting the game at 1-1 after three innings.

CSI then took control an inning later. Against DU starter Casey Reggiani, Locke got CSI started by stroking a double to left-center field, and then up stepped Tallerine, who after fouling away a pair, hit a towering homerun to right field, plating Locke and giving CSI a 3-1 advantage.

From there, however, Drew mounted a slow and steady comeback. The visitors scored an unearned digit in the fifth on a CSI error, and then in the sixth, Drew tied things up with an Antoinette Tovar sac fly that plated D’Ornellas. After CSI left a runner at second base in their turn of the sixth, the game turned to the seventh inning. Smith got the first two batters to fly out harmlessly, but Reggiani then stepped up, and Smith left a ball hanging in the strike zone that the DU pitcher blasted over the left field wall for the team’s first home run of the season, and giving the Rangers a dramatic, 4-3, lead.

ReggianI then sealed things up by putting the Dolphins away in order in the seventh to help her team salvage the split. Smith took the loss, going seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on 11 hits, walking one. Reggiani took the complete game win, allowing three earned runs on five hits, walking two and fanning one. Tallerine finished 2-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.

CSI is back in action on Tuesday, going on the road to resume their CUNYAC slate against York College for a doubleheader beginning at 3pm.