Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island came up a single run short for the second consecutive night, this time against another non-conference opponent in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. As was the case in last year’s meeting between the two teams, the outcome was decided by one run, but this time it was the Mariners picking up the victory, 6-5. The defeat dropped CSI to 13-17 on the season and improved USMMA to 23-9.
Joseph Decelie got off to a quick start on the mound for the Dolphins recording the first two outs of the game on only six pitches. However, the Mariners put together a two-out rally which saw them collect three base hits, steal three bases and score two runs putting USMMA ahead 2-0.
CSI would get on the board for the first time in the second with some two-out magic of their own. Anthony DiMarco would walk with one away in the inning and advance to second on a balk. He remained stationed there until he was chased home on a two-out double off the bat of Michael Crocco to make the score 2-1. CSI had a chance for more with two outs following a walk of Michael Ciancio, but Nick Falcone struck out swinging to end the threat.
The Dolphins were right back in the run column in the third inning after Jett Nouvertne got things started with a single and steal of second base. Once again it was a two-out RBI base hit that brought home a run as Sean Becker singled home Nouvertne to even the score at two.
USMMA responded quickly in the next half inning with another pair of runs in the top of the fourth to go ahead 4-2. After retiring the first batter he faced, Decelie issued a one-out walk to Joshua Costlow who went on to swipe second base. After Tyler Mowry grounded out to short, Decelie issued back to back walks to load the bases with Mariners. This spelled the end for the CSI starter after 3.2 innings in favor of Michael Lenahan. Unfortunately, Lenahan entered the game with command issues of his own, plunking Garrett Aichele with a pitch and walking Jesse Reinebold to force home two runs and put USMMA in front, 4-2.
The fourth inning also brought GarretT Aichele’s outing to an end as Garrick Colorado would relieve the Mariner’s starting pitcher to open the fourth. Trailing 4-2, CSI answered the two-spot in the top half of the inning with two runs of their own behind four consecutive hits by Anthony Lozada, Crocco, Ciancio, and Falcone. While CSI evened the score at 4-4, they failed to take the lead and stranded the go-ahead run at third base.
USMMA jumped right back in front in the fifth with their third two-run inning of the game. After a single and a walk put runners on the corners, a safety squeeze play gave the Mariners a one-run lead, 5-4. Moments later Reilly Cherry jumped on the first pitch he saw from Lenahan and singled home the sixth Mariners run of the game to make it 6-4.
CSI would remain hitless through the sixth, seventh and eighth innings while USMMA would strand a runner in scoring position in every remaining inning from the sixth through the ninth, failing to score in each of those frames. This sent the game into the bottom of the ninth with CSI trailing by two runs for the second consecutive night, and as was the case against Mount Saint Vincent, the Dolphins did not go down quietly.
CSI’s final turn at bat got off to a less than inspiring start as Falcone struck out and Nouvertne flied out to center field. This brought Domenick Castiglione to the plate who was able to work out a walk to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Nicholas Meola. Meola would deliver a line drive single to right field that got by the diving Jacob Kelly. This allowed Castiglione to score all the way from first base as the ball rolled into the right-center field gap. However, the Dolphins would once again find themselves denied the tying run in the ninth as Sean Becker flew out to end the game handing the Dolphins their second one-run defeat in as many nights.
Lenahan was the losing pitcher for CSI AS he allowed two runs of his own in 1.1 innings pitched in addition to the two inherited runners he forced home in relief of Decelie. Garrick Colorado was the winning pitcher for USMMA in a game which saw the Mariners use six pitchers including Kyle Cunningham who picked up the save. Crocco was the only Dolphin with multiple hits going two for three and driving in a run. Matt Mundorf had three hits for the Mariners in the game while Jesse Reinebold was on base four times with a pair of base-hits and two walks. USMMA also swiped seven bases in the game without a single unsuccessful stolen base attempt while CSI continued to struggle with free passes issuing eight walks.
The Dolphins continue a stretch of non-conference matchups as they will take on St. Josephs – Brooklyn in a doubleheader from the CSI Baseball Complex this Friday with game one beginning at 12:00 pm.
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