Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island softball team battled the bitter cold this afternoon to take on the Violets of New York University at the CSI Softball Complex. This was the sixth and seventh meeting all-time with neither team earning a sweep, and the same would hold true today. The Violets took game one, 7-4, while Holmes’ 3-run homer lifted the Dolphins to a 6-2 win in game two. The win bumps the Dolphins to 10-8 while the Violets also moved to 10-8 on the year. 

Game 1: New York University 7, Staten Island 4

Diana King and the Violets wasted no time finding their way onto the scoreboard. In the top of the first inning, King led off with a battle at the plate, battling her way to a walk.  Shortly after taking first King, stole second than third, putting her in a scoring position. King didn’t have to wait long as Taylor Kenerson hit the ball to Patricia Riches for an out, however, King was able to trot home to give NYU an early 1-0 lead.

DeLeon recorded the first hit for the Dolphins in the bottom of the second but Staten Island was unable to capitalize after Christina Cerverizzo was walked to put two runners on. The runners would be stranded after Julianna Cretella struck out looking to end the inning. 

NYU found their way onto the scoreboard again via a two-run homer by Mary Tindall. Tindall took a few pitches and when she found hers, she sent it out over the left field wall to give the Violets a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.  

The Violets kept the Dolphins at bay while keeping their bats hot as Tindall hit another homer over the left field wall. This time, the home run brought in a total of three runs bumping up their lead to, 6-0.

Staten Island’s offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on three hits. Two errors in the inning helped the Dolphins keep the inning going, but once again DeLeon collected the first RBI of the game for the Dolphins.  Cerverizzo kept the momentum going, finding the gap in left-center for a 2 RBI double to bring the Dolphins within two with one inning to go. 

NYU would add an insurance run at the top of the seventh to lock in their 7-4 win after the Dolphins would go scoreless in the bottom of the seventh. 

Trapani dropped to 4-5 on the year while DeLeon finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Cerverizzo finished the game 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI. 

Game 2: Staten Island 6, New York University 2

King continued her offensive onslaught in game two by starting the Violets off with an inside the park home run. The Violets doubled up their lead after an error by Nicolette Trapani dropped the out at first base, extending the inning and allowing a run to cross the dish. 

DeLeon once again made an impact during her first at-bat, driving in Galbo from second with a short hit to left field, cutting NYU’s lead in half. Arianna DiBenedetto knotted the game up at two in the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle, bringing home Kristen Meagher from third base. 

Antoinette Galbo brought in Riches with a bunt after an error on the first baseman. Up one run in the bottom of the fifth and no outs, Jamie Holmes went yard over the left field wall. Holmes’ three-run homer gave the Dolphins a 6-2 lead. CSI netted four runs on five hits with just one error to secure the lead for good in the second game of the afternoon. 

The Violets made a last-ditch effort to make a comeback but the rally was cut short when Galbo cleanly fielded a routine ground ball for the final out of the contest. 

Alison Meagher earned her 6th win of the season after going the distance and allowing just five hits and one earned run. Holmes finished 2-for-3 with a trio of RBI while Vanessa Jioia closed out the game 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Up next for the Dolphins is their CUNYAC rivals, Hunter College, at Randall’s Island at 12:00 pm.