The College of Staten Island women’s softball team dropped a single, non-conference, contest this afternoon, falling to No. 7 Rowan University at the CSI Softball Complex as part of Senior Day at the College. Game two of the doubleheader was not played. CSI fell to 21-8 with the loss, while the Profs upped their overall mark to 31-4. Prior to the start, CSI honored its two lone seniors, Danielle Locke and Brittany Smith.
Today’s game was a pitcher’s duel, as CSI’s Jacqueline Cautela locked horns with RU’s Beth Ann Hyland. One a single run was scored through the first six innings as both pitchers worked out of trouble and tried to stay efficient with their pitches. In the second inning, Rowan tallied a run that almost held up the entire way.
Morgan Smith earned on via an error, getting to second on the play. Smith was forced to leave the game due to injury, but pinch-runner Sierra Machinski would come around to score after a ground-out and then a sac fly by Damaraz Mercado. Cautela stopped the bleeding from there but the damage had been done.
Hyland then breezed from there, stranding only two base-runners and retiring eight straight batters heading into the seventh inning. That’s when Rowan would get some insurance. A leadoff triple by Alyssa Sims got things started and she came in promptly on a passed ball. Shilah Snead followed with a double, and she would later score on a bases-loaded walk to Jessica Phillips. Another Mercado sac fly then scored the fourth run for RU to make it 4-0.
CSI would pack a punch in their seventh inning. Christina Tufano singled and advanced to second on an error, and Chyanne Gilliam then plated Tufano on a liner into left field to make it 4-1. Hyland settled, however, and was able to record the next two outs to seal the complete game win. Hyland did not allow an earned run, fanning four while giving up five hits. CAutela took the tough loss, allowing for runs (three earned) on seven hits, walking four and fanning three.
CSI’s next four doubleheaders to end the regular season will all be played on the road as CSI begins preparation for the CUNYAC Tournament. The Dolphins’ next contest is on Saturday, when they visit Moravian College for a doubleheader beginning at 12 Noon.
