Staten Island Uses Big Innings in Sweep of Lady Bears Softball

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – In the first meeting between the interborough rivals since 2004, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team suffered a 12-0 and 15-3 doubleheader setback to the College of Staten Island on Saturday afternoon at the CSI Softball Complex.

The Lady Bears (7-10-1) were held to just seven hits over the 10 innings of play while the Dolphins (8-7) rang out 23 hits putting the ball in play and pressuring the defense with their fast and aggressive baserunning.

Staten Island used a big nine-run frame in the third inning of the opener to stun the Lady Bears and put the game out of reach. The hosts posted runs in all four at bats of the nightcap, with a seven-run second inning building a 10-0 advantage St. Joseph's couldn't recover from.

Senior Danielle Marino (Maspeth, NY/Mary Louis) went 2-for-5 at the dish with a RBI and two doubles. Sophomore Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy) also went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a walk. Sophomore Cassandra Molinari (Brooklyn, NY/St. Edmund Prep) also collected a RBI, a run and double.

Turning Points – Game 1

Brittany Smith opened the home half of the first for the Dolphins beating out a bunt single and stealing second and third before scoring on a sacrifice and Stefanie Solari followed with a solo blast that put the Dolphins up 2-0.

The Lady Bears threatened in their next at bat when Morgan Summers (Bellerose, NY/St. Mary's) singled up the middle to load the bases with only one out, but couldn't push any across.

Solari knocked a RBI double in the third and Maxine Jasko followed with a two-RBI double to open the scoring in a nine-run inning. The defense also made two errors in the frame that allowed five of the nine runs to score unearned.

Turning Points – Game 2

The Dolphins took control again early with a Solari triple and a Christina Tufano home run in the first building a 3-0 advantage.

Staten Island followed with six hits in a seven-run second inning, six different Dolphins driving in a run. Solari contributed another RBI with a single and finished the game batting 4-for-4 with six RBI.

The Dolphins kept the Lady Bears off the board until the fifth inning as the top of the lineup started a two-out rally to spoil the shutout. Perillo knocked a single to left that scored Megan Moran (Syosset, NY/St. Dominic's) who walked earlier. Molinari and Marino followed with back-to-back doubles that plated a run.

Inside the Box Scores

• Despite being held to just seven hits, St. Joseph's put the ball in play and struck out only four times. The Dolphin defense held firm committing only one error over the twinbill.
• Vargas (4-7) took the loss in the circle in game one (4 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 2 K. 3 BB).
• Perillo (3-3) suffered the setback in game two (4 IP, 14 H, 13 ER, 4 BB).

News and Notes

• Staten Island improves to 6-0 in the all-time series, both squads meeting for doubleheaders in 2003 and 2004.
• Perillo was the only Lady Bear to hit successfully in both games and now has a four-game hitting streak.
• Vargas has extended her reached base safely streak to a team-best 11 games.

Next Up for the Lady Bears – Sarah Lawrence

St. Joseph's has several days off from game action before returning to Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference action facing Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. on Friday, April 12 starting at 4 p.m.