MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The College of Staten Island baseball team ignited their 2026 campaign with a doubleheader against Southern Connecticut State University in Myrtle Beach, SC late Friday afternoon.
At the end of the night, the Dolphins ended splitting with the Owls taking game one 9-5 while the Dolphins dropped 12-6 due to an eight run bottom fifth by the Owls.
Game 1
In the Dolphins' first win of the day, the team recorded 10 hits and nine runs to defeat the Owls, 9–5, opening the season on a strong note at 1–0. Through the first three innings, the Dolphins scored six runs, highlighted by a Jason Romance RBI double, and built a 7–0 advantage by the fourth inning.
Romance put the Dolphins on the board in the first with an RBI double that scored Jack Kehoe, and Vincent Weigele followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2–0. In the second inning, Michael Flashner added an RBI single to extend the lead to 3–0 and the Dolphins then produced their biggest inning in the third, scoring three runs.
Weigele opened the frame with an RBI single to push the lead to 4–0 then Ryan Ortega played a key role in the inning, driving in a run on a fielder's choice that scored Weigele. Later in the inning, during an Ortega stolen base attempt, the Owls' throw allowed Jaden Waterman to score, giving the Dolphins a 6–0 lead.
Aidan Kielty got the start on the mound for CSI in the season opener and delivered 5.0 strong innings. In the top of the fourth, the Owls loaded the bases with two outs, but the senior right-hander struck out the final batter to keep them off the scoreboard.
The Owls broke through in the sixth inning with four runs, but the Dolphins responded in the bottom of the eighth, capitalizing on two defensive errors to extend the lead and secure the 9–5 victory.
Kielty earned his first win of the season, allowing no runs over five innings while striking out five. Kehoe led the offense, going 3-5 with two runs scored. Vera added two RBI, finishing 1-3, while Weigele also drove in two runs. Nicholas Rodriguez walked twice and scored two runs. As a team, the Dolphins stole six bases, led by Kehoe with two.
Game Two
Game two began with a pair of rookies delivering key at-bats. Jason Romance recorded his first collegiate home run to give the Dolphins an early 1-0 lead, and moments later Brandon Bartick tripled to extend the advantage to 2-0. By the end of the second inning, the Dolphins had plated three runs to take a 3-1 lead over the Owls.
Vera added an RBI on an infield single to push the lead to 4-1, but the Owls responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, beginning a shift in momentum. In the fifth, the Owls broke the game open with an eight-run inning to take a 10-4 lead.
Romance continued his strong collegiate debut in the sixth inning, adding another RBI to help keep the Dolphins within reach. However, two additional runs by the Owls sealed a 12-6 defeat for the Dolphins.
Romance finished game two 2-for-4 at the plate, leading the team with three RBI. Jandel Brito went 3-for-4 with one run scored, while Nicholas Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with two runs and two walks. Nicholas Chiaia made his first appearance on the mound for the Dolphins, pitching 4.0 innings with five strikeouts. Anthony Fusco followed with 1.1 innings of relief, recording four strikeouts.
With the split, the Dolphins move to 1-1 overall and will return to the Cal Ripken Experience tomorrow afternoon to face Southern New Hampshire University at 2:30 PM.
GAME REPLAY
