The College of Staten Island men’s baseball team picked up a second straight win this afternoon against the College of Mt. St. Vincent, 10-6.  The visiting Dolphins had success early but it was the home Dolphins that battled their way back into the game, which took place at the CSI Baseball Complex, to improve to 13-9 overall while setting Mt. St. Vincent back to 2-16 overall.

George Kantzian returned to his early season form this afternoon and went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a pair of doubles.  Frank Smith would finish the contest 2-for-5 with one run and two RBIs while Joe Palmeri finished 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs.  Terrance Mulligan would pick up his first win of the season this afternoon after pitching 3.1 innings and only allowing four hits while compiling three stikeouts.

The early beginnings of the games looked like this one may turn into a pitcher’s duel but that thought was quickly washed away when the visiting Dolphins opened up the scoring with two runs in the top of the third inning. Mt. St. Vincent had both of their first two batters, Keith Schroeher and Steven Giustino, single to get runners on the bags.  Schroeher would attempt to steal third but the vigilant Frank Sconzo gunned him down at third to prevent the steal and get the first out for the Dolphins.  After Matt Nesensohn would find his way onto first base via getting hit by a pitch from Josh Bernstein, Brandon Pasquale ripped a two RBI single through the left side to bring all of his teammate’s home and give his team the lead. 

Staten Island would be held in check for one more inning before going on a 10-run scoring rampage scattered across three innings. The fourth inning is where it would all begin, starting with Joe Palmeri who crushed a double to left center then was immediately advanced to third when the defense chose to throw out Frank Smith at first. Palmeri wouldn’t have to wait long to give his team the first run of the game as George Kantzian nearly put one out of the park with a RBI double to left center.

The visiting Dolphins were not happy that they gave up a run and scored four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Craig Weber was clutch when he stepped to the plate for Mt. St. Vincent.  Weber sent one screaming down the left field line for a two RBI double.  After allowing five runs (two unearned) Bernstein’s day would be over and Terrance Mulligan would take to the mound and shut Mt. St. Vincent out the rest of the game.

CSI would close the gap in the bottom of the fifth inning when they tallied three more runs. Sconzo has really settled into his leadoff position nicely and continues to find a way to get on base and most of the time finds a way to cross home plate.  Sconzo would find his way across home plate once in this game but in this inning he was thrown out at home after Palmeri reached on a fielder’s choice. Smith would bring Josh Mercado home with a RBI single that squeezed through the left side.

The visitors were able to keep CSI in check for most of the game however it was when Evan Brown came on the mound that the home team broke open the scoring. Staten Island would get the first and final lead of the game in the sixth inning in which they would go on to score six runs on six hits and leave just one man stranded.  All of the Dolphins runs in this inning would come with two outs on the board as Phil Ciprello got out after laying down a sacrifice bunt to advance his two teammates followed by a Bobby Drake strikeout.  Sconzo would smash a two RBI single to left field to tie the game up at six apiece.

The Dolphins almost had their big inning shut down but Mercado was able to reach second after Xavier Ruiz made a crucial error and missed his throw to first base to keep the inning alive for Staten Island. The visitors were now scrambling to try and find a pitcher that could put an end to the bleeding. Bryan Cantero would come onto the mound only to give up an RBI triple to Smith then immediately get pulled and replaced by Tyler Krolikowski.

The scoring onslaught would finally come to a close when Glenn Glennerster popped up to the short stop for the final out of the inning.  Mulligan and Dan Newman made sure that the visiting Dolphins never found their way back onto the scoreboard while Staten Island bats grew cold and were unable to bring in anymore runs.

The Dolphins will return to action tomorrow, Thursday, April 14 at 5:00 pm for their first CUNYAC doubleheader of the season against Lehman College in the Bronx, NY.