The College of Staten Island’s softball team bounced back nicely this afternoon with a pair of wins which increased their mark to 3-1 on the year. The Dolphins opened their afternoon with a 7-0 win over Emerson College and followed that up with a 2-1 win over Thiel College. CSI showed great determination this afternoon and it paid off. The Dolphins will now have a day off before returning to the diamond on Saturday.

Game 1: Staten Island 7, Emerson College 0

 The Dolphins took on the Lions of Emerson College to start their day at the ESPN Sports Complex this afternoon. Staten Island battled out of two tough innings in the beginning of the game after the Lions had their bats going. The Dolphins played solid defense for Alison Meagher and were able to help her get out of the tough innings.

 The scoreless deadlock would be broke open in the bottom of the third when Cautela hit a one out single to left field to get on base for the Dolphins.  Antoinette Galbo would crush a deep shot into the left center gap for a double which allowed Cautela to round all the bases and reach home.  Galbo would not be stranded on the bags as Vanessa Jioia reached first on a fielder’s choice and allowed Galbo to score.

Emerson looked primed to score some runs in the fourth inning, however, once again the Dolphins defense was able to shut down the surging Lions to keep them scoreless.

 Staten Island caught fire in the bottom of the fourth inning tagging on five more runs to their 2-0 lead. Three straight Dolphins reached the bases to load them up after three straight walks. With the bases loaded Galbo stepped to the dish and would receive four–straight balls to walk in a run, which started the scoring spree.  Patricia Riches slammed a ball down the left field line for a 2 RBI double to increase the Dolphins lead to 5-0.  Riches and Galbo were poised to reach home and Jioia made sure that happened when she hit a deep single which brought them both home.

 CSI looked ready to end the game early, by initiating the 8-run mercy rule, when they had the bases loaded.  They could not take advantage of the opportunity as they would record three straight outs to close the inning.

 After that explosion the Dolphins cooled off as the Lions made several catches to keep the Dolphins from scoring again.

 Riches continues to play extremely well for the Dolphins in her freshman season as she finished this game 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.  Jioia finished 1-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs. Alison Meagher picked up her first win of the season and collected a shutout in the process. Meagher allowed just five hits and tallied five strikeouts.

Game 2: Staten Island 2, Thiel College 1 (9 inn.)

Jacquelyn Cautela started in the circle for the second time during this Florida trip for the Dolphins and earned her second win of the season via a 2-1 win over the Lions of Thiel College.

The win did not come easy as it took extra innings for the Dolphins to take down the Lions. Staten Island led the game in hits, 8-5, however that margin could have been much larger had some of the balls found some gaps.

The solid pitching combined with acrobatic stops in the field, the game would have to be determined in extra innings. Cautela would start on second via the international run rule and would advance to third as lead off hitter Galbo hit a shot to the shortstop who made the choice to throw Galbo out instead of holding Cautela to second. With Cautela 60 ft away from scoring, Jioia singled to center field to bring home Cautela to give the game its first run of the game.

The Lions would come out and and match the Dolphins’ run to tie the game up at one and extend it to the 9th inning. Nicole Meliak would reach first via an error on the shortstop which allowed Alexis Kateridge, who was pinch running for Trapani, to cross the dish for what would be the games winning run.

When it came time for the Dolphins to take the field they knew what they had to do and executed perfectly. Galbo kept the Lions scoreless in the bottom of the 9th with a huge leaping grab to keep the ball from going into the outfield. Galbo would be called upon once more as she made the final out when she caught a pop up to end the game.

The Dolphins will return to action on Saturday, March 11 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex when they take on Rochester and Emerson starting at 1:15 PM.