The College of Staten Island women’s softball team backed up it’s third-straight loss via shutout with what could be it’s biggest win of the year, leaving with a road victory over No. 7 Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA.  The Greyhounds won the opener, 5-0, before CSI grabbed a 3-1 win in the second game.  The win moved CSI to 24-6, while MC now stands at 31-3.

GAME ONE
The Dolphins came into this one looking to shake off 2-0 and 1-0 defeats over Montclair State University, CSI’s first shutout losses of the year.  Unfortunately for the Dolphins, however, the lack of offensive production continued while Moravian would chip away at CSI starter Jacqueline Cautela.

The scoring started in the second, and it was Lauren Goetz who swung on the game-winner, lacing a homerun to left field to make it 1-0.  CSI got a runner to third base in the third but could not register against MC starter Josie Novak and then in their turn of the third inning, MC doubled their lead, this time using a Kat Spilman fielder’s choice to score Julie Siragusa.  Cautela would escape the inning down only 2-0, leaving the bases jammed.

A RBI double by Siragusa then highlighted a two-run fourth for the Greyhounds, opening up a 4-0 edge.  That was enough for Novak, who allowed two base runners in the fifth on a walk and hit batter but was perfect the rest of the way, guiding her team to the 5-0 win, fanning five.

Moravian out-hit CSI, 10-2, getting three hits each from Siragusa and Goetz who combined to go 6-for-6 with two RBI and four runs scored.  Cautela took the loss to fall to 11-2 on the season.

GAME TWO
Shut out for the last 21 innings, CSI now reached a critical need for offense, and they would find it in game two for an emphatic victory behind the pitching of junior Alison Meagher, who improved to 5-1 overall.

Like in game one, however, it was Moravian that struck first and looked poised for victory..  Siragusa started with her fourth hit, a double and after advancing via a wild pitch, she would score via another wild pitch after Meagher fanned two batters.

Things looked bleak from there, as the Dolphins went quietly in the second and third innings, but behind a crisp performance from Meagher and great defense, CSI finally hit pay dirt in the fourth.  Antoinette Galbo started it with a double to right center and then Patricia Riches earned on via a hit by pitch.  After Galbo was advanced to third, she would come home on a Kristy Colangelo RBI ground ball and then Ashley Notaro plated another run to give CSI the 2-1 lead.

That then put more emphasis on Meagher and she would allow single base runners in the fourth and fifth but no other harm done until the sixth.  There CSI added another big insurance run as Notaro delivered again, this time with an RBI single to score Riches who walked and was moved over by a Vanessa Jioia single.

Meagher allowed walks in the sixth and seventh but MC could not get the bats in order as CSI would hold on for the win.  Meagher was sensational, going the distance, allowing just three hits and three walks while fanning seven.  CSI gave Amanda Carisone (16-1) her first loss of the season.

For the Dolphins their win over Moravian was their first ever as CSI is now just 1-10 all time against the Greyhounds.

CSI will be back in action tomorrow, taking on John Jay College at 1pm in their CUNYAC finale.  CSI will be the road team on their home field against the Bloodhounds at the CSI Softball Complex.