The College of Staten Island women’s softball team travelled to face No. 2 Montclair State University this afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader, and while the Dolphins didn’t come out with a win, they certainly made a statement, falling in a pair of one-run games. MSU won the opener, 3-2, and then took a 5-4 victory in the second contest. The Dolphins losses sent them to 17-13 on the season, while the Red Hawks advanced to 33-3 overall.

The Dolphins are one of only three teams this season to score in both games of a doubleheader against the Red Hawks, who came in having posted 19 shutouts on the season. In the opener, CSI took an early, 2-0, lead and out-hit MSU, but fell short after a valiant Red Hawk comeback. The Dolphins registered two runs in the fourth inning on a Chyanne Gilliam two-RBI double that plated both Christina Tufano and Stefanie Solari. Both runs were unearned, guided by one of three CSI errors in the opener.

MSU came back, however. Pitcher Alex Hill kept the Dolphins off of the scoreboard and MSU got a run back in the fifth off of CSI starter Jacqueline Cautela. Then, in the sixth, an RBI-single by Briana Davidson plated Alison Cullen to tie the score at 2-2, and shortly thereafter, Lauren Guillen was chased home on a Brooke Powers single that gave MSU the 3-2 lead. CSI’s Cautela was able to double in the top of the seventh inning and was moved over to third base, but was left stranded, giving MSU the nail-biting win.

In game two, the Dolphins put forward a valiant comeback to tie in the final frame before MSU took the game via a walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh. Against starter Victoria Procopio, MSU took an early 1-0 lead in the first on a Hill sacrifice fly that scored Alisha Cumberton. Both pitchers were outstanding from there, until CSI touched MSU starter Allison Cullen for two runs in the sixth. A Christina Tufano infield single brought home Smith, and Chyanne Gilliam followed with an RBI-double, making it 2-1. That prompted MSU to insert Hill again to pitch, and she was able to retire the side.

MSU got even and then some in their turn of the sixth. Dana Amato doubled and was then brought home on a Hill single. Two batters later, Tara Petrucelli stepped up and belted a two-run homerun to left-center, giving MSU the 4-2 edge.

CSI followed with heroics of their own. In the seventh with two outs, Cautela hit an infield single, and then Smith flashed her bat, hitting a homerun to knot the score at 4-4. Hill was able to get out of the inning, and that led to the last of the seventh.

Dana Egan led off with a single, and pinch-runner Jaclyn Allegretta was then moved to second via a CSI error. Brooke Powers singled again via the infield and the bases were loaded with no one out. Cumberton then kept the rally going, stroking a single that dipped into centerfield to score Allegretta and give MSU the walk-off victory.

Procopio took the loss, tossing six innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs. Hill took the win by going 1.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits.

CSI is now idle until Sunday, when they host FDU-Florham for a doubleheader at 12 Noon. It will also be Senior Day at the College, as CSI will honor its three departing faces prior to opening pitch.