The College of Staten Island baseball squad fell for the fifth time this season, making them winless since March 6th. The Dolphins took on the Valiants at the CSI Baseball Complex this afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader on a cold overcast day. The Valiants who came in on a two-game win streak extended it to four when they picked up a 5-2 and 2-1 win today, improving them to 5-7 on the year while dropping the Dolphins to 6-5-1 overall.
Game 1: Manhattanville 5, Staten Island 2
The Dolphins found success at the dish in the first game, edging out the Valiants 10-6 in hits. That would not be enough however, as the Valiants were able to bring home five runs on just six hits. The Dolphins had their woes in the field as they committed two costly errors which allowed runs to cross home plate. James Taunton was given the ball to start the game and would go five innings and allow four runs, two earned, in his second loss of the year.
The Valiants would get off to an early start, scoring a run in each of the first three innings. The Dolphins would finally get on the board in the third inning to shrink their deficit to just two. With two outs on the board Frank Sconzo would single to right field before Anthony DiMarco would double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Freshman sensation Nick Meola stepped to the plate and hit an RBI single to the shortstop.
Manhattanville would continue their streak of consecutive innings with a run in the fourth. A fielding error by Robbie Lynch at third base allowed Tom Gilmartin to reach first. Anthony Iannuzzi would come to the plate and lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance Gilmartin over to second. With two outs the Dolphins looked prime to get out of the inning unscathed but a single through the right side would change things as that hit by Danny Gallagher would score another run to put the Valiants up 4-1 over Staten Island.
Staten Island would rally back and put another run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth to make it a two run game. Bobby Drake started the Dolphins off with a double to left field to immediately put a runner in scoring position for CSI. The following two batters would record outs, leaving Meola to drive it Drake with a single to center field. CSI had chances to score in this inning but left two runners on the bases with a three hit inning. CSI was unable to record a run during the final two innings of play and would succumb to the Valiants, 5-2, in the first game.
Meola finished game one 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while Drake finished 1-for-3 with a run.
Game 2: Manhattanville 2, Staten Island 1
Ryan Kennedy got the nod to start on the mound for the Dolphins in the second game of the day. Kennedy came into today’s contest with a 1-0 record and a 0.00 ERA and was nearly able to maintain that this afternoon. Kennedy fell to 1-1 on the year but was able to keep his ERA at 0.00 as the two runs came during a three error inning by the Dolphins.
CSI was able to get up 1-0 on the Valiants in the third inning. Jett Nouvertne singled to the shortstop and used his blazing speed to beat out the throw, giving the Dolphins a man on first with just one out. Nouvertne would use that speed to steal second and move all the way over to third when the throw trying to get him out at second was overthrown and sent into the outfield. Sconzo stepped to the plate and grounded one to the shortstop which allowed Nouvertne to score from third as the Valiants opted for the easy out at first. The Dolphins scoring run would come to a close when Anthony DiMarco flew out to the right fielder.
The Dolphins were able to hold that 1-0 lead for a majority of the game until their defense came unraveled in the sixth inning. Gallagher ripped a shot down the left field line for a double, putting him in scoring position. Kennedy was then able to force the next batter to fly out to Meola in right field. On the next at bat the Valiants reached via an error by the third baseman. Scoggins would battle at the plate but be hit by Kennedy and sent over to first base. The bases were now loaded with just one out when the Dolphins caught a break and were able to pick off Scoggins at first for the second out of the inning. Two unearned runs would score for Manhattanville when the pinch hitter, Campana singled through the left side for a two RBI hit.
Staten Island was unable to match the runs and would fall for the second time on the day.
The Dolphins will return to action on Tuesday, March 28 when they will host William Paterson in a non-conference game. The Dolphins and Pioneers recently played to a 4-4 tie due to darkness.
