RALEIGH, NC – The College of Staten Island softball team wrapped up its spring trip to Raleigh with matchups against Virginia Union University and Clarion University at the D2 Triangle Classic.

The Dolphins secured their first win of the season with a 10-9 victory over Virginia Union but fell just short in their final game of the trip, dropping a 4-3 decision to Clarion after a late rally attempt. CSI returns home with a 1-3 overall record.

Virginia Union Summary (10-9 Win)

CSI opened the morning against the Panthers with early offensive momentum. Aliveah Warner put the Dolphins in scoring position with a double that also advanced Jianna Lopez. Madilyn Paul followed with an RBI single to score Lopez for the first run of the game, and Warner later crossed the plate on an RBI from Abbie Morris to give CSI a 2-0 lead.

Virginia Union answered with a run in the bottom of the first to trim the deficit to 2-1, but the Dolphins responded with a strong stretch across the third and fifth innings, combining for seven runs. Four of those came in the third, beginning with a leadoff effort from Lopez to spark the rally. Bridget Motley and Warner each recorded RBI at-bats to extend the lead to 4-1, and CSI capitalized on Panthers errors to push the advantage to 6-1.

By the sixth inning, the Dolphins had built a 9-3 lead, but Virginia Union mounted a comeback, scoring six runs to tie the game at 9-9 heading into the final frame. With two outs in the seventh, Julia Del Masto singled up the middle and advanced into scoring position with a stolen base. Presley Borne then delivered the go-ahead RBI to give CSI a 10-9 lead.

The Dolphins sealed the victory in the bottom half of the inning, retiring the side to secure their first win of the season.

Warner led the offense, going 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Paul finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Borne, Del Masto, and Lopez each went 2-for-4. Kennedie Ruth made her first start of the season in the circle, pitching 5.1 innings, while Marena Grenier earned the win in relief after closing out the final innings.

Clarion Summary (4-3 Loss)

In the second game of the day, CSI faced the Golden Eagles in a tightly contested matchup. Both teams were scoreless after the opening inning before Clarion struck first in the second to take a 2-0 lead.

Taryn Judson responded in the bottom of the inning, launching a two-out solo home run—the first home run of the season for the Dolphins and the first of her collegiate career—to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The game remained scoreless through the third and fourth innings before Clarion added single runs in the fifth and sixth to extend its lead to 4-1.

CSI mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh. Warner led off with a single, and the Dolphins loaded the bases following a Clarion error. Additional defensive miscues allowed CSI to plate two runs and pull within one, 4-3, with two outs. Despite the late push, the Dolphins came up just short, falling by a single run to conclude the trip at 1-3 overall.

CSI returns home to Staten Island for its home opener on March 6 against Felician University at 2:00 PM.