The College of Staten Island baseball team ran their mini win-streak to three games, getting a powerful performance from pitcher Josh Bernstein to score a 2-0 win over Mount Saint Mary College at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY, this morning.  The win lifted CSI to 13-7-1 overall, while the Blue Knights fell to 4-19.

Playing in their sixth game in five days the Dolphins knew they needed a strong performance from their starting pitcher, and they got all of that and then some from Bernstein, who motored through 9 innings for the complete game shutout.  The game was a pitcher’s duel going into the late innings until CSI got to MSM starter Jake Stewart for runs in the seventh and eighth frames.

Bernstein started by getting out of a jam in the first inning with runners on second and third, inducing a Vincenzo Pepe pop-out to end the threat.  He surrendered two hits again in the fourth inning but forced a Tom Huvane double play to end that potential burn.  Going into the seventh, Bernstein would allow one more base runner and then in the seventh, the CSI offense finally was able to touch down.

Sean Becker legged out an infield hit and then Bobby Drake did the same on what should have been a sac bunt.  Jett Nouvertne was next up and he also squared to bunt, but the Knights went to third on the play and the ball was muffed at the bag and Becker slipped in to home to score.  A continuation of the play saw Drake get tagged out at third base when he tried to advance and Stewart was able to escape the inning with no further damage.

But after an uneventful bottom of the seventh, CSI struck again in the eighth.  Nick Meola led off with a double and was sacrificed over by Muzzio.  Meola then scampered home on a pitch by Stewart that went wild.  Stewart was able to get out of the inning via a double play, but CSI was up 2-0 with six defensive outs to go.  Bernstein yielded a single to Joey Pugliese but he was quickly stranded when Bernstein induced a fly out by Matthew Kozireski.

After CSI went down in the 9th, Bernstein came out for more work.  The senior yielded a lead-off single to John Santana but that was it as Bernstein retired the side including the last two batters on routine pop-outs.

Bernstein allowed eight hits, walking only one while fanning two.  Stewart took the loss, allowing the two runs (one earned) on eight hits.  Glenn Glennerster, Becker and Nouvertne each tallied two hits for CSI.

The Dolphins will now have a day of rest before returning to action on Friday to start a three-game set with CCNY on Friday and Saturday.