It’s opening day, and the Dolphins are doing so in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  There is some rain in the forecast, but the Dolphins will be hoping to face off with Fredonia State University in their opening doubleheader and in one of their first opportunities to exit the indoor confines.  CSI boasts a young roster, complete with 19 first-year faces, and so today’s games will be the first of many for some underclassmen, and feature the return of a handful of seniors and upperclassmen who will be leaned on heavily.

CSI vs. FREDONIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Matchup: College of Staten Island (0-0) vs. Fredonia State (0-0)
Where: Ebbets Field – Cal Ripken Experience – Myrtle Beach, SC
Live Video:  https://web.playsight.com/facility/ripken-myrtle-beach-sc/home (requires a subscription payment)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fredonia/baseball/
All-Time Series:  Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: March 5, 2016 – CSI Won 5-3 / Fredonia Won 7-3
Players to Watch (CSI): The Dolphins will be led by their senior class, one that includes four-year standouts Christian Capellan and Anthony DiMarco.  The reigning CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year, Capellan is looking to build on a tremendous career, while DiMarco, the CUNYAC Tournament MVP from 2018 is right there with him, looking to improve on his gaudy numbers through the first three years of his career.  Fellow seniors Sean Becker and Nicholas Meola are also fixtures in the lineup, and look for returning stars like Anthony Lozada, Jett Nouvertne and John Pomerico to usher in a very talented young cast that follows suit.  Especially during these spring games, look for the Dolphins to tweak their lineups and give their pitchers plenty of work.
Players to Watch (FSU): Fredonia got their season officially underway yesterday against CUNYAC opponents Lehman College.  For Fredonia, they return Jon Morrison, who was 5th on the team in hitting last year at .346, and Kole Brink, who was the only other returner who batted .300 or better, putting up a .304 average last year.  Nicholas Lawlor is FSU’s top returning pitcher, as he amassed a 3-1 record in 10 appearances with a 2.79 ERA a year ago.  Luke Kuczewski should also see innings.  He had 9 appearances last year, boasting an impeccable 6-1 record with a 3.50 ERA.
News & Notes: These two teams matched up at the Ripken Experience two years ago, and split the series.  CSI took the opening game, 5-3, while Fredonia returned the favor, 7-3.  CSI comes in to this one as the four-time reigning CUNYAC Champs, looking to improve on a 18-16 mark from a year ago.  Last year, CSI went 3-3 in their Myrtle Beach swing.  The Devils went 17-13 last season.  Last year they went 3-1 when they were at the Ripken Experience.