Rockville Centre, NY | The College of Staten Island Softball team came up empty today in two turns against ECC-rivals Molloy College, falling to the Lions, 2-0, and 13-4, in the pair played at Bob Klein Field. CSI fell to 2-4 overall and in the conference, while Molloy lifted their records up to 11-7 overall, and 2-4 in the ECC.
GAME ONE
It took one big hit to be the difference in the opener as Molloy pitcher Tonianne Larson went toe-to-toe with CSi hurler
Emily Koerick in the pitcher's duel. The Dolphins out-hit the Lions in the opener, 5-4, but just couldn't get the hit when they needed it most.
CSI did have their chances. The stranded a runner in each of the first two innings while Koerick went unscathed, and then in the third, CSI loaded the bags. A
Samantha MacPherson two-out single advanced
Elizabeth Moore to second, and then
Claudia Porcaro laced one up the middle to pack the bases. Larson came up strong, however, striking out
Isabel Gallo to end the threat. CSi left another runner on base in the fourth, and then the CSI defense escaped a jam in the bottom of the fourth, when Koerick induced a fly-out with two runners on.
That led to the fateful fifth inning. CSI went quietly in their turn, and in the bottom half, the Lions took advantage. Akemi Poyer earned on via error and two batters later, Steph Conrade singled with one out. Emma Bachman then legged out an infield single to load the bases still with one away, bringing up Chrissie Huhn. The shortstop would double to left center field, scoring two as the difference makers in the game.
Larson then took care of business, retiring CSI in order in the sixth and surrendering just a single hit in the seventh before claiming the win, allowing five total hits in the game while fanning nine. Koerick was the hard-luck losing pitcher, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out 11, a season single-game high. Huhn finished the game 2-3 at the plate with two RBI, while
Jaclyn Kateridge earned two hits in the cause for CSI.
GAME TWO
Molloy's offensive struggles against Koerick was an aberration in the second game, as they scattered 18 hits to take a 13-4 winner in the second game in a shortened five innings. The assault started with a five-run first inning. Huhn started the frame with a triple, immediately plated by a Marissa Nicoletti single. Courtney Greene added a double sending in Nicoletti and she came in on a Karsyn Eaton double. The final two runs came off of the bat of Bachman to make it 5-0.
The Lions would make it a 6-0 lead in the second before CSI responded with their first runs of the afternoon in the third inning. There, MacPherson would double, sending Koerick, who walked, to third base. An error then allowed Koerick in, and MacPherson would end up scoring on an inning-ending double play. Molloy added another run on three hits to make it 7-2, before CSI got closer with two more runs in the fourth off of MC starter Amanda King. Gallo would lead off with a double and scored in the next at-bat on a single from Kateridge. Later in the inning,
Victoria Whalen would score on a passed ball.
Despite the offense, CSI didn't have an answer for the Lions attack, as the home team plated six runs on six hits, helped along by two CSI errors to essentially put the game out of reach.
Nicole Rivera saw her first action in the circle, coming on in relief of Kateridge, pitching the final 0.2 innings, registering a strikeout.
In their final turn of the plate, CSI was able to muster a walk against Larson, who came on in relief in the fourth inning, but was retired from there.
Three Lions registered three hits in the game, including Huhn (3-4, 2 runs scored), Greene (3-3, RBI, run scored), and Conrade (3-3m RBI, and run scored). Five different Dolphins registered hits.
CSI will next be in action against Mercy College on Saturday, April, 10, for a doubleheader beginning at 12 Noon.
