On a cloudy spring day at the Tomas D. Morales Baseball Field, the College of Staten Island baseball squad split their CUNYAC opener of the season, taking on affiliate member Stevens Institute of Technology.  The Ducks prevailed in game one, 2-1, however, the Dolphins responded in the second game with a 3-2 win to gain the split.  CSI advanced to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in the CUNYAC, while the Ducks moved to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in CUNY.

The Dolphins were able to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on the opener when Will DiFede reached first on a Stevens infield throwing error.  John Baggs came up to bat next and hit an infield single to third baseand reached first safely while advancing DiFede to second.  Phil Ciprello came to the plate with two outs and two men on base and hit a double to deep right center which scored DiFede and advanced Baggs to third.  Frank Sconzo would then be walked, and load the bases for Nick Delprete who would fly-out to center to end the inning.  That would be the only run the Dolphins scored the entire game and the last time they would threaten to score.

The Ducks were held scoreless until the fourth inning where they were able to score two runs.  Jayson Yano was able to reach first on a walk and would eventually be hit to third on a double by Ryan Mannello.  With two runners in scoring position Curt Lowenstein stepped up to the plate and hit a long single to center field in which Yano and Mannello would both score solidifying their lead which would eventually turn into the winning runs.

Chris Falcone started game two on the mound for the Dolphins and was able to strike two batters out and make another fly-out to left field.

The Dolphins opened up scoring in the first inning when DiFede doubled to left field which advanced Joe Palmeri to third.  John Baggs would come to the plate and hit a long single to center field which drove in both Palmeri and DiFede.

It would take the Duck three innings to finally score a run which they were able to do due to Yano’s double up the middle and then Mannello hit a single down the left side which drove Yano in to make it 2-1.  Both teams would go scoreless until the fifth inning where the Ducks tied the game up when bases were loaded and Mannello would come up and hit a single down the left side once again and drove in Hennelly.

The Dolphins were able to answer back in the fifth when Chris Ramanauskas drove in Palmeri with a single up the middle for the winning run. 

Despite having the lead, however, CSI used some late heroics to ward off a Ducks comeback.  With runners at first and second base and no one out, Anthony Storz came on for the Dolphins in the top of the seventh to try and preserve the win.  Storz got Zeph Walters to fly out, but Yano would advance to third putting runners at the corners with one out.  Curt Lowenstein was up next, and the Duck tried a safety squeeze to try and get a darting Yano in from third.  Storz, however, answered the call, back-handing the ball and throwing it home and nailing Yano and the would-be tying run.  Stevens still had a shot with runners at first and second and two out, and Marc Calleo hit a driving ball to deep centerfield that looked like it would be trouble.  Battling the wind and sun, DiFede would ultimately make an unbelievable basket catch to end the game, giving CSI the nailbiting win

With the split, the Dolphins improved their record all-time against Stevens to 12-11.  Mike Fitzpatrick took the loss in game one for the Dolphins, pitching all seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits.  In game two, Falcone took the win by giving up two runs on 9 hits while fanning eight.  Anthony Storz came on for his second save of the season, throwing the one inning of scoreless relief.

The Dolphins are back in action tomorrow at 1pm at the Tomas D. Morales Field to take on Mount Saint Vincent in a doubleheader.