The College of Staten Island women’s softball team gave a valiant effort, but in the end suffered an 11-5 loss to Catholic University of America, thus ending their NCAA Division III Softball Tournament run, in a game played Saturday afternoon at the campus of the University of Virginia Wesleyan. The Dolphins’ season finalizes at 23-17, while Catholic improved to 24-14.
In their game on Friday against the hosts CSI fell behind early, and it was the same in this one, as the Cardinals raced out to a 5-0 lead after three frames. An infield single by Monica Peters scored Julie Keleti for CUA’s first run in the second, and then the Cards exploded for four runs in the third.
In the tough third frame for CSI starter Jacqueline Cautela, the bases were jammed with one when Tori Marcavage broke the game open with a two-RBI single, making it 3-0. Then, both Marcavage and Christy Sanchez scored on a passed ball, opening up the game at 5-0.
CSI did respond in the fourth, making it a 5-3 game thanks to a big inning against CUA starter Kerri Apicella. CSI loaded the bases thanks a Christina Tufano single, a walk and an error, and Tufano scored first on a wild pitch. Later in the frame Danielle Locke rocketed a double scoring Chyanne Gilliam and Victoria Procopio. Locke was out trying to extend to third base, but CSI had cut the lead, 5-3.
The Cardinals, however, emphatically responded in their turn of the fourth inning. With two outs, the rally started with a Kristina Lozupone double, and Adams followed with an RBI-single. After a Sanchez double put runners on second and third, Marcavage belted another bases-clearing double to make it 8-3. Cautela was then lifted for Procopio. Another two runs followed and after four innings of play, CUA had a daunting, 10-3, lead.
CSI never did quit, and managed to put up a digit in both the fifth and seventh innings. A Brittany Smith ground ball scored CSI’s fourth run of Cautela, who doubled to lead the threat in the fifth. In the last frame, Solari did the honors via an RBI-double, scoring Cautela.
CUA out-hit CSI, 12-8, with Lozupone and Marcavage leading the way with three hits apiece with a combined four RBI and five runs scored. CSI got two hits each from Cautela, Solari, and Tufano. Cautela took the loss, going 3.2 innings, yielding 9 runs on 9 hits, striking out one. Apicella took the win, going the distance, allowing five runs on eight hits, fanning four.
