Game 1: Farmingdale State - 10, Staten Island - 2 (5 innings)
Game 2: Staten Island - 4, Farmingdale State - 3
Staten Island, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State women's softball team split a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon, winning 10-2 in game one before falling 4-3 in the nightcap at the CSI Softball Complex. The Rams now stand at 22-10 overall, while the Dolphins stand at 10-16 overall.
After a quiet first inning for both teams in the opener, the Rams struck first in their half of the second, as junior Jennifer Jarczynski (West Babylon, N.Y.) belted a solo home run down the left field line that put her team up, 1-0. Farmingdale State added another run in the top of the third inning off a sacrifice fly by Jarczynski to go up 2-0, before the Dolphins countered with a run in their bottom half of the third.
The Dolphins tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth off a Victoria Procopio RBI double to deep left field that scored Christine DeCarlo, who walked earlier in the inning. The Rams would answer quickly in the top of the fifth with eight runs on seven hits and two Dolphin errors, highlighted by a two run double to left center by freshman centerfielder Michelle Mongiello (Elmont, N.Y.) that put the mercy rule in effect and gave the Rams the 10-2 lead. The Dolphins picked up two hits in their bottom half of the fifth but could not get a run across, thus ending the game after five innings.
Jarczynski and Mongiello each finished with three RBI's, while sophomore shortstop Hillary Genova (Brentwood, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Freshman pitcher Chelsea La Marca (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) allowed just six hits in the win, improving her record this season to 5-2.
In game two, Staten Island scored two in the bottom of the first inning off three hits and a walk. That score would stand until the fourth when the Rams got a run back to make it 2-1. A two-out triple to right by junior third baseman Kristen Flint (Brentwood, N.Y.) put a runner one. She would score on junior catcher Lauren Nelson's (Levittown, N.Y.) RBI single to right field.
The Dolphins went ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth with a run on two hits and one error. In the top of the seventh, Farmingdale tied the game at 3-3. With two outs, freshman designated hitter Lisa Bonacasa (Deer Park, N.Y.) got the rally started with a single to right. Genova also singled to right, advancing Bonacasa to second. Senior left fielder Rebecca Richman (West Islip, N.Y.) knocked a two RBI double to left center to bring both runners home.
But with runners on second and third in the bottom of the inning, Staten Island's Danielle Ponsiglione flied out to right field for the sacrifice RBI and game-ending run.
The Rams will play in their final regular-season game on Saturday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Skyline opponent The Sage Colleges in Troy, N.Y.
The double-elimination conference playoffs will begin on Wednesday, April 25 with First Round games on campuses of the highest seeds. The Semifinals and Championship round will be hosted by the top-seed on Saturday-Sunday, April 27-28. The winner receives an automatic bid to the 2012 Division III Softball Championship.
Seeding for the Conference Tournament will be announced by the Conference on Sunday, April 22 after all games are completed.
*****