The College of Staten Island softball team celebrated senior day this afternoon at the CSI Softball Complex against the Devils of FDU-Florham. The Dolphins came into the day just two games shy of setting the CSI school record for wins in the regular season which stood at 31. The Devils would thwart the Dolphins chances at breaking the record as FDU would take game one, 3-1, from the Dolphins before the Dolphins rallied in game two to win 8-0 in six innings. CSI improves to an impressive 31-7 on the year as they head into the CUNYAC Playoffs which start on Friday at the CSI Softball Complex.
Before the twin bill the Dolphins honored their five seniors with speeches by their fellow teammates and were given commemorative posters. Elizabeth Travieso, Alexandra Conanan, Giana DeCesare, Kristy Colangelo and Jacqueline Cautela have played their final game in the regular season at home and were honored this afternoon.
Game 1: FDU-Florham 3, Staten Island 1
The Devils found two of their three runs in just one at-bat as Torre crushed a two-run homer over the center field wall, the first homer hit there this season, to shock the Dolphins and put the Devils up 2-0. The home run was just the third allowed by Cautela this season as she also picked up her third loss of the season in 17 starts.
CSI would fall behind 3-0 in the top of the fifth as the Devils would add a security run after Lillie singled to right field and was able to move over to second after Julianna Cretella had trouble fielding the ball. Lillie would not have to wait long to cross home plate as Mangini singled to center field to bring her home and give the Devils a 3-0 that the Dolphins were unable to come back from. Zaccario was in the zone this afternoon as she shut down a powerful Dolphins offense with two strikeouts and just three hits allowed.
Cautela struggled in the circle at home for the first time this season as she allowed the Devils to secure eight hits, the second highest she’s allowed all season.
The Dolphins would answer in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off single by Kristy Colangelo to center field. Colangelo would find her way over to second base via a wild pitch before moving over to third on another errant pitch, this time it was a passed ball. Ashley Notaro saw her opportunity and seized it as she battled at the plate and was finally able to keep one in play as she singled through the right side for a single RBI as Colangelo crossed from third.
CSI would have momentum in the final two innings but were unable to capitalize on their chances as the Devils put an end to the Dolphins’ seven-game win streak.
Game 2: Staten Island 8, FDU-Florham 0 (6 inn.)
Game two was a full 180 turn of the Dolphins as they were on the side that peppered the opposing pitcher which lead to an 8-0 win in the second game to tie the CSI all-time record for wins in the regular season.
Alison Meagher was given the start in the circle for the Dolphins and dominated the game as she shut down the Devils offense that scored three runs on eight hits in game one. Meagher tallied seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit while throwing just 57 pitches in a six inning day. Meagher picked up her seventh win of the season and lowered her ERA to a team-best 0.68.
Five of the Dolphins’ eight runs came in the opening inning. After being held without a hit in game one, Antoinette Galbo made sure that didn’t happen again as she tattooed a triple to right center to put her in scoring position immediately. Galbo would not have to wait long as Patricia Riches singled to left field which allowed Galbo to score and put the Dolphins up 1-0.
The Devils did not help their cause when Notaro came to the plate. Notaro would reach on a fielder’s choice however as the throw came home in an attempt to get Riches out, the throw missed its mark which also allowed Vanessa Jioia to score increasing the Dolphins’ lead. Jamie Holmes would push one up the middle of the field for an RBI single and then steal second during A. Meagher’s at-bat. An Illegal pitch would bring Notaro home from third and move Holmes over to third but the inning would end with Holmes stranded on third. CSI would score five runs on four hits while the Devils would commit two errors in that inning that they were unable to recover from.
Riches bounced back nicely from being held without a hit in the first game as she finished game two, 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Riches singled to right field to get on base for the Dolphins and would be the only Dolphin to score in the bottom of the second as Notaro would once again bring a runner home with a single up the middle.
Staten Island added just one run in the fourth inning and it came off the bat of Jioia. Jioia came into the day with three home runs to her name and collected her fourth this afternoon when she sailed one over the left field wall for a solo home run.
The Dolphins needed just one run to end the game early and they found it in the bottom of the sixth. Galbo found her way over to first when she hit one back to the pitcher who was unable to cleanly field the ball. With Galbo on first via an error on the pitcher Riches came to the plate and popped up to the second baseman but not before Galbo stole second to put the game ending run in scoring position. Jioia would ground out but move Galbo over to third with two outs on the board. Colangelo hit a hard ball at the shortstop that took a nasty hop over her glove which allowed Galbo to trot home to pick up a win for the Dolphins.
The trio of Galbo, Riches and Colangelo all finished 2-for-4 while the latter two tallied an RBI.
The Dolphins will return to action on Friday, May 5 for the CUNYAC Playoffs at the CSI Softball Complex. Staten Island will once again head in as the #1 seed as they prepare to win the CUNYAC title for the fifth straight year.