Bridgeport, CT | The College of Staten Island Baseball team got plenty of runs and hits spread across 16 innings today at the University of Bridgeport, but unfortunately it wasn't enough, as the Purple Knights showed their firepower as well in a pair of offensive, 17-10, 13-10, wins over the Dolphins as part of continued East Coast Conference play on Saturday.  UB lifted to 3-2 overall and within the ECC, while CSI fell to 0-5 overall and within conference play.

GAME ONE
CSI fell behind by a bunch and never could completely recover, trying to play catch-up the entire way in game one, a nine-inning affair to open play.  CSI got off to the early lead, scratching a run across in the top half of the first inning unearned, as Michael Crocco came in on a passed ball after being walked, and advancing to third on a single by Peter Lombardo and a ground out, against UB starter Anthony Marino.  But like they did all afternoon, the Knights had an answer, and this time it was to the tune of five runs in the bottom of the first against CSI starter John Esposito.  Craig Leonard and Stephen Giambra did the damage with a pair of two-RBI hits, Giambra's a double.  

CSI would cut the lead in the third on another unearned run, but after a scoreless second, UB responded with three runs of their own in the third to expand to an 8-2 lead.  Giambra again was the highlight dropping in a single to center field, scoring Leonard and Anthony Pascale.  

A resilient CSI pressed on, and put more pressure on the Knights in the fifth inning, when Louie Mandile doubled in a run and then later came in on a Lombardo sac fly.  CSI added another run unearned off of an error, coming to within 8-5.  CSI would then lift Esposito for Alexis Santos in the fifth inning, and unfortunately for CSI, UB took full advantage, scoring a heavy seven runs in the frame.  Jacob Rich started the assault with an RBI double, and then Justin Nyarady added another.  With the bases jammed, Matt Rodriguez then doubled in three runs before coming in himself on a Ryan Donnelly triple.  Donnelly would later score on a wild pitch and Santos was lifted, but not before CSI found themselves in a 15-5 hole after five innings.

After a scoreless sixth, CSI refused to go away and put up a five-spot in the inning, drawing closer, at 15-10.  Angel Santiago singled in a run, and then Steven Collica walked and Thomas Joyce was plunked to load the bases.  That brought up Shendi Ulaj, who pumped a grand slam to left center field, CSI's second grand slam of the season, to draw the team closer at 15-10.

Unfortunately, that would end CSI's scoring in game one, as UB reliever William Ciccone, settled from there and was able to close CSI out in the final two innings, helped along by single runs in the seventh and eighth to make the final tally, 17-10.  Martino, who improved to 2-0 on the season, went five innings in the win, allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits, walking five and fanning six.  Ciccone got the four-inning save.  Esposito (0-2) took the loss, yielding eight runs on eight hits in four innings, fanning seven.  Like the final score, UB out-hit CSI, 17-10, and were led by Leonard's 3-4 performance with three RBI and two runs scored.  Donnelly added three hits with two RBI and three runs scored, while Giambra added two hits and three RBI.  CSI's Louie Mandile went 3-4 with an RBI and two runs plated, while Santiago added two hits as well..

GAME TWO
Scoring was the feature in the second game as well and this time it was Bridgeport that was made to play catch-up, as they overcame two different CSI leads in this game to take the game 13-10.  Against UB starter Andrew Francella, CSI struck first, as Mandile took the second pitch of the game over the wall in left field to make it a 1-0 lead.  After CSI starter Kevin Ryan got out of his half of the first unscathed, CSI added another digit in the second.  Ulaj pasted a two-out double, and was chased in on a Nick Cippoletti single, making it 2-0.  Bridgeport got the run back, however, when Rich launched an RBI-single that scored Giambra, who earned on via a fielder's choice and error.

Unfazed, CSI continued their offensive assault in the third, scoring three runs to make it a 5-1 game.  With runners at the corners and one out, Thomas Marten singled home Lombardo, and then later, Joyce lined a double to right field, scoring Santiago and Marten to give CSI their biggest lead of the season.

UB had other plans, however, and the lead was spoiled in the bottom half of the third.  Andre Marchesseault hit a two- RBI double to narrow CSI's lead and then he and Leonard would score in the inning on wild pitches to tie the score up at 5-5.

After a scoreless fourth, CSI chased UB starter Francella with two runs in the fifth to retake the lead.  Nick Campisi's sac fly scored Lombardo and then Joyce hit an RBI-ground out to make it 7-5 CSI, but like they did all day, UB had an answer when CSI went into their relief.  This time against reliever Collica, UB scored five runs to take a 10-7 lead.  Pascale roped a two-RBI triple to tie the score, and then later Nyarady singled to center scoring another two to make it 9-7.  He would then score on a Rodriguez hit to give UB the three-run lead it would not relinquish.

The Knights added three more runs in the sixth inning to make it a six-run game, doing the damage against Joyce who came on in relief.  Down to their final three outs, CSI did make some noise against UB reliever Justin Hafele.  Lombardo singled and so did Noah Lunn with one out.  Campisi then walked to load the bases and after Joyce fanned, Ulaj again struck for CSI, this time with a base-clearing double that made it 13-10.  He was left stranded there, however, as Hafele was able to record a game-ending strikeout to preserve the win.

UB reliever Matthew Wirz got the relief win, tossing just two scoreless innings, fanning a pair.  Collica took the loss for CSI, going the lone fifth inning.  UB out-hit CSI, 14-12, led by Rich's three hits with a pair of RBI and runs scored.  Marchesseault went 2-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.  For CSI, Lombardo went 3-4 with two runs plated while Santiago and Ulaj each scattered a pair of hits.

The two games were the first-ever between the two sides, and they will complete their three game series on Monday, April 5, at 3:30 PM, at the CSI Baseball Complex, the home opener for the College of Staten Island.