Staten Island, NY | College of Staten Island freshman
Nicole Rivera scored her first collegiate win in the circle, and the Dolphins won their first game in program history against St. Thomas Aquinas, as CSI split with the Spartans this afternoon at the CSI Softball Complex in a pair of East Coast Conference tilts. CSI, which snapped a seven-game skid with their game two win, moved to 5-15 overall and in the ECC, while STAC moved to 22-8 overall, and 16-6 in the ECC.
GAME ONE
STAC ace Carissa Della Vecchia was outstanding in the circle and CSI starter
Emily Koerick was just as good, only getting into trouble in one inning that proved to be the difference in this one. After both teams went quietly in the first, the Spartans got the game's only runs in the second frame. Amanda Castro led off with a walk, and Della Vecchia then helped her own pitching cause with a single stroke to left field. Rudae Gadson followed with an RBI single that chased in Castro from second, moving Della Vecchia to third. Tara Hagan then added an RBI-single to make it 2-0, before a ground out led to another run to make it 3-0.
Not only did Koerick not allow another run in the game, she wouldn't allow another hit, either, as STAC was held in check the rest of the way, only getting three more base runners in the game. Still, CSI couldn't draw up a run against Della Vecchia and the stingy Spartans defense that played tremendous in the field. The Dolphins threatened in the third inning, when
Samantha MacPherson stroked a one-out single and then
Elizabeth Moore followed with a double to put runners at second and third. But Della Vecchia would settle, striking out both
Isabel Gallo and
Claudia Porcaro to end the threat. From there, Della Vecchia threw a perfect game, as STAC prevailed 3-0 with both teams recording only three hits apiece.
The final line for Della Vecchia in the win was a scoreless seven innings, yielding just three hits while fanning 12. Koerick in the loss tossed seven innings, yielding three runs on three hits, fanning six.
GAME TWO
In seven innings in game one the teams combined for three runs and six hits. In the first inning alone of game two, five runs were scored on five hits, and fortunately for CSI, four of those runs were in their favor.
Before that, STAC would push across a run in their half of the frame against CSI starter
Nicole Rivera. Melissa Sadler started the game with an infield single, and took two bases on a Nicolette MacDonald sacrifice. After CSI recorded an out, Castro looped in a single that plated Sadler to make it 1-0, but Rivera responded by recording two outs to hold STAC from there. STAC decided to give the ball again to Carissa Della Vecchia in game two, but after the long layoff, she was touched for four runs.
MacPherson led the first with a double to left field, and came in to third base after a muffed throw at first allowed Moore to reach via error. Gallo then came on and knocked in MacPherson on a single, tying the game. Della Vecchia settled to strike out a batter and forced a fly out that should of ended the inning, but with two outs and two runners on,
Victoria Whalen made the Spartans pay with a towering shot to left field that easily cleared the wall and gave CSI a 4-1 lead after the single frame.
From there, the attention turned to the circle and the outstanding defenses of both teams that made many tough plays feel routine. As Rivera hummed along for CSI, STAC was led by Paige Toothaker, who came in to start the second frame. CSI missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the third, loading the bases, before Toothaker would get
Jessica Carreon to strike out.
They did, however, pick up an insurance marker in the fifth. With Porcaro at first base and with two out,
Jaclyn Kateridge smoked a single to right field, but was able to get all the way to third base on a two-base error as the ball got past Kaley Pederson, allowing Porcaro to score to make it 5-1.
It would prove to be a tremendous run for CSI, as STAC got right back in the game in their turn of the sixth. MacDonald started the frame with a bunt single, and after an out, Castro stayed hot with a single up the middle to move MacDonald all the way to third. Rivera scored the second out by striking out Toothaker, but then got into trouble, allowing a single to Tara Hagan that scored MacDonald to make it 5-2. Gadson followed with an RBI double, making it 5-3, and that was all for Rivera who gave way to Koerick. Koerick would skip one in the dirt for a wild pitch allowing another run (charged to Rivera) before striking out Jailene Santiago to end the frame.
CSI went quietly in the sixth, and STAC was up again in the seventh, now with the game on the line. This time, however, CSI would not be denied. Sinead Albelli grounded out, and Koerick then got Sadler to fly out. MacDonald followed with a walk, making it interesting before Amanda Schweitzer flied out for the final out, giving CSI the 5-4 win.
STAC led the hit count, 7-6, as Sadler and Castro posted two each, while Gallo went 2-3 for the Dolphins. The final line in the win for Rivera ws 5.2 innings, yielding four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
CSI will next be in action tomorrow for a scheduled doubleheader with the University of Bridgeport at the CSI Softball Complex at 4:00 PM.
GAME VIDEO
