On a night when the Dolphins would scatter 16 hits, the College of Staten Island baseball team came-from-behind early to score an 11-5 win over the United States Merchant Marine Academy as part of non-conference play tonight at the CSI Baseball Complex. CSI, winners of 9 of their last 11 games, pulled to 14-9 overall, while the Mariners fell to 11-13.
Despite the final, it was USMMA that shot out to a quick 2-0 lead, touching CSI starter Josh Bernstein for a pair of first-inning runs. Bernstein allowed three hits, including an RBI-double by Michael Barnes. CSI, however, chipped back for a run in the first on a Frank Smith RBI-double that scored Nick Delprete. One inning later, USMMA starter Justus Martin ran into more trouble, as Bobby Drake gave CSI the lead on a two-RBI single that scored Phil Ciprello and Frank Sconzo, making it 3-2, and in the third, CSI laced Martin for four runs to build the lead to 7-2.
A triple by Glenn Glennerster and double by Joe Palmeri powered CSI in the third. With USMMA shuffling in relief pitchers, CSI added insurance markers in the fourth and fifth innings. From there, CSI was comfortable, and even after reliever Gerald Esposito gave up a couple of runs in the sixth inning, reliever Jason Faillia settled the Dolphins for two very impressive shutout innings. By that time CSI scored another pair of runs to make it 11-4, before USMMA threatened in the ninth, but could only push across a run.
Bernstein recorded the win, pitching five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits, fanning five. Martin took the loss, allowing seven earned runs in three innings. Glennerster managed a 3-4 day at the plate with 3 RBI and a run scored, while Drake Frank Muzzio, Frank Smith, Palmeri, and Ciprello all posted two hits, as CSI out-hit USMMA, 16-8.
CSI will be back in action on Saturday, when they resume their conference slate of games with a doubleheader against John Jay College at 12 Noon at the CSI Baseball Complex. CSI will be the visiting team on their home field.
