STATEN ISLAND, NY – The College of Staten Island softball team made program history Saturday afternoon at the CSI Softball Complex, securing its first-ever East Coast Conference (ECC) postseason berth since transitioning to Division II. The Dolphins hosted Mercy University in a regular-season-ending doubleheader, splitting the series with a 7-3 loss in game one before earning a dramatic 6-5, nine-inning victory in game two to clinch their playoff spot.
The game-two win came in walk-off fashion, as CSI capitalized on a Mercy wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to seal the victory and postseason berth. In the circle, Marena Grenier also etched her name into the record book, setting a new CSI Division II single-season strikeout record. She recorded five strikeouts in the game, bringing her season total to 76 across 17 appearances.
Prior to the doubleheader, the Dolphins honored their three seniors: Angelina Guerriero, Kennedie Ruth, and Alyssa Acosta.
Game One: Mercy 7, CSI 3
Game one remained competitive through the early innings, with the Dolphins keeping pace before Mercy pulled away late.
The Mavericks struck first with two runs in the top of the second. CSI answered in the bottom half when Bridget Motley reached on a walk and Abbie Morris singled. Motley later scored on a Kaylee Cary sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Mercy added another run in the third to go up 3-1, but the Dolphins responded in the fourth. Taking advantage of a Mercy error and a Cary sacrifice bunt, CSI evened the score at 3-3. The Mavericks regained control in the later innings, plating four runs across the fifth and sixth to secure the 7-3 win.
Morris led the Dolphins offensively, scoring twice, while Cary drove in two runs. Ruth started in the circle, tossing 5.1 innings with one strikeout.
Game Two: CSI 6, Mercy 5 (9 Inn.)
With a playoff berth on the line, the Dolphins delivered in a back-and-forth contest that required extra innings.
Mercy jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but CSI responded immediately. Aliveah Warner delivered a two-run double to tie the game at 2-2. The Mavericks regained momentum with three runs over the next two innings to take a 5-2 lead.
CSI began its comeback in the third inning when Madilyn Paul singled and Morris advanced her into scoring position. Jianna Lopez then delivered a clutch hit to right-center field, driving in both runners to cut the deficit to 5-4. The hit also marked Lopez's 100th career hit, spanning her time at Fullerton College and CSI.
Grenier settled in from there, shutting down Mercy the rest of the way while the Dolphins chipped away. In the sixth inning, Taryn Judson came through with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5-5 and force extra innings.
After two scoreless extra frames, CSI secured the win in the bottom of the ninth when Paul crossed the plate on a Mercy wild pitch, lifting the Dolphins to a 6-5 victory.
Morris paced the offense with two hits, while Warner and Lopez each drove in two runs. Grenier was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game nine-inning effort with five strikeouts to set the single-season program record.
CSI concludes the regular season at 13-21 overall and 8-12 in ECC play, earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The Dolphins will compete in the ECC Championship, a double-elimination tournament scheduled for May 7–9 in Sparkill, NY. More details to follow.
