STATEN ISLAND, NY – The Purchase College baseball team won a back-and-forth midweek battle with the College of Staten Island, 11-6, on Wednesday.
The host Dolphins (8-12) led 2-0 after the first inning, but the Panthers (12-6) battled back in the second with two runs to even the score (2-2). Staten Island took a 4-3 lead after the third inning, but Purchase answered back in the fourth to reclaim the lead— and this time, the Panthers would hold on for the win.
Matthew Mulligan (SO/Bellport, NY) went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and one double, while teammate
John Fitzgerald (JR/Wantagh, NY) went 2-for-5 with two RBI, one double and two stolen bases.
Dylan Flynn (SO/Hauppauge, NY) also swiped a pair of bases en route to recording three runs for the Panthers.
CJ Owens (Ridge, NY) got the start in the non-conference tilt. He was relieved by
Cody Hennequin (SO/Milford, CT),
Matthew Villalobos (SR/Brooklyn, NY) and PC closer
Jemal Betances (FR/Bronx, NY). Villalobos (1-0) recorded the win in his first pitching appearance of the season. He allowed just four hits and two runs (0 ER), while striking out two batters over 4.0 innings of work.
CSI pitcher Daniel Garcia was tagged with the loss after coming on in relief of Joseph Decelie to open the fourth. Steven Collica led the Dolphins with three hits in five plate appearances in the game, and Sean Becker contributed an early-inning RBI-double driving in a team-leading two runs.
Purchase will look to build on Wednesday's win as the Panthers get set to play host to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday. Game one of the Skyline Conference doubleheader begins at 11 a.m.
