The College of Staten Island women’s softball unit was able to salvage a split with visiting William Paterson University this evening at the CSI Softball Complex as part of non-conference play. The Pioneers came from behind to score an 8-6 win in eight innings in the opener, before CSI came back to score a 5-3 win in the second contest. With the split, CSI advanced their record to 22-10 overall, while the Pioneers advanced to 28-10.
In the opener, the Dolphins opened up two big leads before WPU chipped away and used unearned runs late to score an extra-inning win. Before that, CSI plated three first-inning runs off of WPU starter Gabrielle Castelli. The starter would get into trouble after an inning opening walk and then consecutive hit batters Christina Tufano and Kristy Colangelo. Vanessa Joia followed with a two-RBI single and Chyanne Gilliam followed that with a RBI-single to make it 3-0.
A Kelsey Wimmershof sac fly for WPU in the top of the third cut the CSI lead to 3-1, but the Dolphins responded in their turn of the frame. Colangelo earned on via walk and Joia followed by gaining first base via error. That gave way to Gilliam, who towered a lined shot to left field that cleared the wall to give CSI a 6-1 edge.
The big lead was short-lived, however, as the Pioneers struck right back with three runs in the fourth inning Cautela walked a pair and then Kim Fryer added a single to load the bases. Greulich then followed with a blast to left-centerfield that cleared the bases, making it 6-4. Cautela was able to wiggle out of the inning, but the damage was done. CSI threatened for more runs in the fifth by putting their first two batters on base, but WPU gave the ball to reliever Allison Podmajersky, and she was able to retire to the Dolphins in order to break up the jam.
That seemed to fuel WPU, and they were next able to plate two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 6-6. Both runs came unearned, guided by a CSI infield error that would extend the inning. Rachel Wasilak singled in the tying run. The teams went quietly from there, setting the stage for extra frames. With an automatic baserunner placed at second base, WPU was able to plate a run off of another CSI error in the outfield, and later with two out, CSI missed a chance to end the inning on yet another error, allowing another runner to score to make it, 8-6. WPU left the bases loaded in the inning, but the damage was done by that point. Meanwhile, Podmajersky was dominating and retired CSI without incident to preserve the victory. She earned the victory in relief while Cautela took the loss.
In game two, Podmajersky got the start for WPU, but after taking a hard line drive off of her glove and then another immediately off of her leg, she was lifted in the game in favor of Castelli. CSI took advantage of an otherwise sharp Castelli, plating a run in the second inning. Two infield singles got the Dolphins started and then after a walk to load the bags, a Cautela RBI-groundout plated Ashley Notaro to begin the scoring. CSI would add two more in the fourth inning. An error and an infield single started things and then a Meagher single loaded the bags. Castelli then got into trouble by walking the bases loaded twice, giving CSI a 3-0 edge.
Again, WPU chipped away. The Pioneers finally touched CSI starter Nicolette Trapani thanks in large part to back-to-back-to-back doubles in the fifth inning, two of them earning RBI’s for Eleni Lutas and Salina Pellios. Trapani was able to work out of trouble from there, but in the sixth inning, WPU got even thanks to a Greulich solo homer to introduce the sixth inning. Again, Trapani rebounded nicely by getting out of the frame, but CSI would have to come back yet again if they wanted to grab the win.
This time, the Dolphins delivered.
After registering an out, Cautela doubled to right-center, and after Castelli walked Joia, Tufano blasted a two-RBI double of her own to get CSI back up 5-3. Tufano would finish stranded at third, but the lead would prove sufficient for Trapani, as she would retire the top of the order in order in the top of the seventh to cap the complete game win.
CSI out-hit WPU, 7-5, in the nightcap, with Tufano finishing 2-3 with a walk and three RBI.
The Dolphins will next host Moravian College, ranked No. 18 nationally, on Saturday at 12 Noon at the CSI Softball Complex for a non-conference doubleheader.
