The College of Staten Island softball squad will play their first home doubleheader of their 2016 campaign this afternoon at 4:30 pm against Rutgers-Newark University. The Dolphins most recently were in San Antonio, Texas, for their spring training trip where they faced some tough opponents. Today’s doubleheader will mark the first of a two game home stand before the Dolphins play their first CUNYAC doubleheader of the season against Brooklyn College.
CSI vs. RUTGERS-NEWARK AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: CSI (3-5 Overall, 0-0 CUNYAC) vs. Rutgers-Newark (0-0 Overall, 0-0 NJAC)
Where: CSI Softball Complex – 2800 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY
First Pitch: 4:30 pm
Live Video: www.csidolphins.com/csisportsnet
All-Time Series: CSI leads 15-9
Last Year’s Result: CSI lost three, 0-3, 0-3, 0-3, CSI defeated York 3-0, 3-0
Players To Watch (CSI): Chyanne Gilliam has started the season leading the Dolphins with a .350 batting average and a .450 slugging average through eight starts. Christina Tufano led the CUNYAC in RBI’s a season ago and has started the season the same way. Two-time CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year Jacqueline Cautela will take to the circle looking for her third win of the season. Cautela has 10 strikeouts on the year, good for second on the team, through 26 innings pitched with a 2.15 ERA.
Players to Watch (RU-N): Kelly Yusko finished 2015 as the best hitter for the Raiders, tallying 9 HRs and 46 RBIs, both team highs, on 59 hits while having a .484 batting average. Yusko also helped her own cause in the circle as she finished with an 11-8 record with 122.2 innings pitched with 84 strikeouts and held opposing batters to .291.
News and Notes: The Dolphins have won four of the last six meetings against Rutgers-Newark but the series has been idle since 2011 where the teams split. When playing at the CSI Softball Complex against the Raiders, CSI is 9-7. Today’s doubleheader will kick off the 2016 season for the Raiders which will be followed by Rutgers-Newark heading to Florida for their spring training trip.
