The College of Staten Island men’s baseball team dropped their fifth-straight, and it was another nail biter, this time falling in a 3-2, non-conference test against William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. The Dolphins fell to 2-5 overall on the season, while the Pioneers lifted to 10-2. A two-run triple by Jimmy Kenny in the bottom of the eighth won it for the Pioneers, squandering what was a 2-1 Dolphins lead.
It was a pitcher’s duel from the outset, but it was the home Pioneers that drew first blood, as an Anthony Hoagland single plated Mike Abate, who led off the bottom of the first inning getting plunked by CSI starter Ryan Kennedy. CSI’s hurler would settle from there, however, yielding only two hits over the next six innings in the sterling start.
Meanwhile, WPU starter Frankie Colasante was just as effective, surrendering just three hits in his five innings of work. CSI, however, would even things up in the third inning without the benefit of a hit. Elijah Rodriguez started with a walk, and after stealing both second and third base, came around to score on a Frank Muzzio sac fly.
Two innings later, CSI took their decisive 2-1 lead, this time on a Muzzio RBI-groundout that plated Nick Delprete, who tripled earlier in the inning.
With Kennedy done for the afternoon, in stepped Mike Fitzpatrick for the Dolphins, but the hurler was touched for a pair of hits, including the big triple by Kenny that would plate Jacob Bailey and Tyler Gargiulo.
With one last gasp, CSI was able to get a base runner aboard in the ninth, via a walk to pinch hitter Josh Mercado against WPU closer Ryan Monaghan, but Monaghan responded with a pair of outs to end the threat and the game.
WPU out-hit CSI, 5-3, and the Dolphins left six runners on base to WPU’s five. Monaghan got the relief win, while Fitzpatrick suffered the defeat. Delprete would finish with two of CSI’s three total hits.
CSI is back in action tomorrow evening for their home opener. They host the College of Mount Saint Vincent for a non-conference test at 6:00pm.
