The College of Staten Island softball team finally got redemption against Montclair State University tonight and was able to sweep the Red Hawks, 4-3, in game one and, 10-9, in extra innings in game two. With the wins the Dolphins improved to 9-3 while the Red Hawks fell to 5-9 with the pair of losses.
The Dolphins struck first in game one with their very first at bat as Jacqueline Cautela took the first pitch and sent it over the center field wall for a solo homerun, her first of the season. Cautela who was also pitching for the Dolphins in game one was able to keep the Red Hawks off the scoreboard for one more inning however the Dolphins had no intentions on of putting a goose egg on the scoreboard.
Maxine Jasko and Gianna DeCesare were both walked and were allowed to advance a base due to a passed ball which put them in scoring position with only one out due to an infield fly. Kristy Colangelo walked up to the plate and knew she had to bring her teammates home so she waited until she found her pitch and when she did she crushed a three-run homer over the center field wall to increase the Dolphin lead to, 4-0.
The Dolphins would go scoreless the rest of the game however, the Red Hawks put a good scare into Staten Island as they scored a run in the seventh to make the 4-3. Montclair had a runner on third with two outs and down a run and the next batter hit a slow rolling ball down the third base line but Christina Tufano was able to get to it in time and throw her out at first for the final out of the game.
Staten Island scored four runs on three hits and committed two errors in the game while Montclair was able to secure three runs on six hits without committing an error.
The Dolphins started off game two in a similar manner as game one with four quick runs, giving them a 4-0 lead through four innings. The Red Hawks refused to go down without a fight and scored three runs in the fifth inning before scoring three runs in the seventh to give them a two run lead.
Staten Island saw their lead disappear before their eyes and now saw themselves down two heading into their last at bat.
Tufano started the Dolphins on the right foot by hitting a single up the middle followed by Chyanne Gilliam who played an outstanding game in the outfield for the Dolphins was walked. Danielle Locke came up to bat and before she was able to finish her at bat Tufano broke for third but was caught stealing for the first out of the inning however Gilliam advanced to second on the play.
Locke then singled up the middle which would have brought in two runs had Tufano not been caught but Gilliam was able to make it home and Locke advanced to second on the throw home in the attempt to get Gilliam out. Same scenario happed at the next at bat with Jasko singling up the middle and Locke making a break for home and slid under the tag to tie the game up at six and Jasko advanced to second on the throw home.
The Red Hawks had an explosive 8th inning and were able to score three runs and went to the field feeling confident they had scored enough to win the game.
Staten Island had other ideas although at first glance it didn’t look promising as their two lead off batters in Cautela and Smith got out leaving the Dolphins with no runs and two outs. Tufano came to the plate and hit a double to right field which allowed Desiree Vasquez to score from third. Gilliam was walked once again and it came down to Locke who was hitting well (3-for-5). Locke thrived under the pressure as the baseball team cheered her on but during her at bat Gilliam was able to steal second and get into scoring position before Locke hit a single to the second baseman.
Jasko hit a deep single to drive in Locke and Tufano and tie the game up at 9 before Alexa Pedersen grounded out to the pitcher for the third out of the inning.
CSI held Montclair to no runs in their at bat.
Kristy Colangelo the hero from game one, once again had the game in her hands with runners on first and third hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to right field which allowed Pedersen to score from third for the game winning run.
