Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island took on non-conference opponents, FDU-Florham this afternoon at the CSI Baseball complex. The single game went from sunshine to a heavy wind and sub-40 temperatures as the game drew to a close. Two, two-run frames for the Devils would be the difference, highlighted by a two-run homer in the third inning as FDU-Florham would knock off the Dolphins, 4-3.

Staten Island (13-14) scattered eight hits, to plate their three runs and left seven men on while FDU-Florham (10-23) used just six hits to cross their four runs and left six men on the bases in the win. 

FDU-Florham 4, Staten Island 3

Juan Rodriguez (0-4) looked to build on his solid last outing to the mound but was pulled after 4 1/3 innings after striking out six but allowed four runs. Chris Karnbach (3-3) came in for relief of Rodriguez and threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit and struck out one. 

After a pair of scoreless frames, the Devils were first on the board in the top of the third after Chris Franco tattooed his hit over the left field wall which scored Ian Havren after he walked earlier in the inning. 

The Dolphins would answer back with a lead-off homer by Jett Nouvertne, the first of his career, which sailed over the left field wall to cut the Devils’ lead in half. 

FDU-Florham doubled up on their lead in the top of the fifth after another lead-off walk by Havren. Havren would move over to third via a balk and would cross via a Reynaldo Diaz RBI double to left field. Franco followed up Diaz’s double with an RBI double of his own to put the Devils up 4-1 over the Dolphins. 

Staten Island began their late-game rally in the bottom of the sixth, using an RBI single by Glenn Glennerster to score Frank Muzzio to bring the Dolphins within two. CSI made it a one-run game in the bottom of the eighth.  With two outs, Muzzio singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch to put him in scoring position.  Much like he did two innings earlier Glennerster brought in Muzzio with a shallow single to center field. 

Heading into the final frame the Dolphins trailed by just one run and took out the Devils in order which set up the Dolphins to use their momentum to tie the game up. CSI was unable to complete the comeback as they too would go down in order to end the game, snapping a four-game win streak. 

Up next for the Dolphins is a CUNYAC battle against Lehman College on Saturday, April 28 in the Bronx, NY.