Bridgeport, CT | The University of Bridgeport continued their undefeated run through the East Coast Conference, scoring a pair of wins over the College of Staten Island today on the softball diamond, 6-0, and 10-1.  The wins lifted UB to a perfect 8-0 both overall and in the conference, while CSI fell to 3-7 overall and in ECC play with the pair of losses.

GAME ONE
Pitching was the name of the game for the Purple Knights throughout the entire afternoon, and the home team was able to score plenty of runs for starter Miranda Hillman to back up the pair of wins.  In the opener, Hillman tossed the complete-game shutout, and after a scoreless first against CSI starter Emily Koerick, the Knights plated all the runs they would ultimately need in the game's second inning. 

Sam Ferreri started the second with a single and Hailey Kim followed with a bunt single to start the threat.  After a sac bunt advanced the runners Meg McFarland singled in Ferreri to open the scoring and then UB would score two more when Elyssa Marmolejo singled in a run and another came in coupled with an error.  Two UB errors in the top of the third put CSI in prime position to make an impact on their side of the scoreboard, but Hillman was able to induce a bases-loaded fly out.

The Knights would grow their lead in the fourth, highlighted by a two-RBI stroke from Kaira Ramon, and in the fifth, Kiana Robinson scorched a home run over the left center wall to cap the scoring at 6-0.

UB out-hit CSI, 8-6, in the opener, helped by two-hit games from McFarland (2-4, RBI, two runs scored), and Kim (2-3, run scored).  Koerick scored the only multi-hit game for CSI, going 2-4.  Hillman struck out eight batters in the win.

GAME TWO
A steady UB attack led to a shortened game two, as the Knights scored their final two runs in walk-off fashion to get the game 10-1 after five innings.  This time CSI was held to just a pair of hits, as Kaite Burawski was sensational, striking out the Dolphins nine times in 15 outs registered.

CSI, however, got the first lead of the game.  Koerick started the game on a single, but was thrown out at the plate on a Samantha MacPherson double, which allowed her to take third base.  Isabel Gallo followed with a groundout, but it did chase in MacPherson to give CSI the modest, 1-0, advantage, after one-half inning of play.

The lead was short-lived, as CSI starter Nicole Rivera was touched for three runs in the bottom half of the same frame.  With the bases loaded, Rivera was able to register a pair of outs, but then got in trouble by walking in a run to tie before Taylor Yates knocked in a two-RBI single to make it 3-1.  After CSI went quietly in the second, UB added an unearned marker to make it 4-1, and then after another perfect inning defensively, UB broke the game open with another three-run inning.  Another two walks helped load the bases before CSI reliever Jaclyn Kateridge came in to relieve Rivera.  McFarland, however, laced a two-RBI double to make it 6-1, before another run came in via a groundout to end the scoring at 7-1.

Two hits and an error by CSI in the fourth made it 8-1, and then Bridgeport ended things in the fifth in dramatic fashion.  With McFarland on base and two out, pinch-hitter Grace Derita launched a home run to left center field, ending the game on the spot at 10-1.  Bridgeport scattered nine hits in the win, led by McFarland and Yates, who scored three hits apiece, adding five RBI and two runs scored between them.

CSI is next in action on Thursday, April 15, against Molloy College, for a home doubleheader, weather-permitting.