The College of Staten Island men's baseball squad opened the home portion of their 2008 campiagn with a doubleheader split over non-conference rival New Jersey City University at the CSI Baseball Complex earlier this afternoon.  The Dolphins scored an extra-inning, 5-4, win over the Gothic Knights in game one, before NJCU silenced the Dolphins, 4-0, in the nightcap.  CSI upped their overall record to 2-6 after the split, while NJCU moved to 4-8.

In the opener, it didn't take long for runs to come across the plate as CSI starter Pat Gale and NJCU hurler Anthony Cacchiola were touched for first inning runs.  NJCU struck first, when a Jose Fulgencio double to left field started a two-out rally.  The fast start lengthened Fulgencio's nation-leading hit streak to 38 games.  Meanwhile, Alex Mena followed with a double of his own down the left field line against Gale that plated Fulgencio, giving the Knights the 1-0 edge.

CSI responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame aided by a pair of Knights errors.  Andrew Baio started with a one-out walk, advancing to second base on a wild pitch by Cacchiola.  A failed pick-off attempt then moved Baio to third, and he scored easily on Joel Pratts' double in the right field corner.  With two outs and Pratts at second, the inning continued when a Tom Burke throwing error allowed CSI's Michael Madalone to reach base and advance to second and Pratts to score, giving CSI the unearned run and a 2-1 lead.

CSI added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third frame, aided by another crucial Knight error, this time by Cacchiola.  Down 4-1, NJCU did crawl back.  Two runs in the fifth inning highlighted by Fulgencio's RBI-single, brought NJCU to within one, 4-3.  One inning later, with CSI's James Mardikos chasing starter Pat Gale with a runner at second base and nobody out, an infield hit by Kristopher Brus plated Leonardo Acosta, who led off the inning with a leadoff single.

The game moved into extra innings as Mardikos held NJCU at bey for the final four innings.  in the ninth inning, CSI's Mo Hamad led off of with a walk against NJCU reliever Steve Hallam.  Anthony Piccirillo's sacrifice bunt then moved Hamad to second base, and Hallam was lifted for Mena, who came into the game to pitch.  After a fly-out, Ray Valerio was intentionally walked, and Pratts earned another walk to load the bases for  Madalone.  He then skied a long fly ball to left field that went in and out of the glove of left-fielder Mark Hoyer.  Hamad scored on the play giving CSI the thrilling 5-4 win.

In game one, CSI was aided by six NJCU errors, leading to three unearned runs.  Mardikos earned the win, tossing four innings of two-hit ball.  Hallam took the loss, pitching 2.2 innings in relief.  Fulgencio scored a three-hit day, going 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.  CSI's Pratts had the only multi-hit game for the Dolphins, going 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

In game two, NJCU responded with a nearly flawless game in the field, yielding no errors, three walks, and four total CSI hits.  Jose Sotomayor did the honors on the hill for the Knights, going seven string innings for his first win of the season, striking out four CSI batters.  CSI starter Eric Waldhelm pitched admirably in his half of the game, going five innings, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits while fanning three.

NJCU made their runs hold up in the second inning.  NJCU's Jose Colon started the second frame with a single to right field, and later came home on a wild pitch.  Leomar Paulino doubled in his turn at bat, and was brought in on a ground ball by Burke, giving NJCU a 2-0 edge after two innings. 

An Anthony Mackow triple in the fifth inning was the highlight in NJCU's one-run fifth inning, and the Knights added another digit in the top of the seventh off of another RBI single by Fulgencio that plated Jonathan Marichal.  Held without an extra-bagger in game two, CSI received single hits from Piccirillo, Baio, Devon DiCasoli, and Thomas DeWaters.  It marked the first time CSI was shutout in a contest in 26 games. 

NJCU now leads the all-time series against CSI, 15-14.  The Dolphins will be back in action on Wednesday, March 19, at 3:30pm, when they travel to Trenton, New Jersey to take on The College of New Jersey. 

Boxscore Game 1

Boxscore Game 2