STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University led 2-1 after five innings in game one before the College of Staten Island scored eight times in the sixth inning and defeated NJCU, 9-2, in non-conference action on April 14. CSI limited NJCU to two hits in the nightcap, sweeping the doubleheader with a 6-1 result.
 
Staten Island, the defending CUNYAC champions, improved to 11-5 on the season with the sweep. The Gothic Knights fell to 11-15 (lost 10).
 
Game 1: College of Staten Island 9, New Jersey City University 2
NJCU had the advantage heading to the bottom of the fifth before the bottom fell out. The Dolphins sent 13 batters to the plate, scoring eight times on five hits with two costly errors extending the inning.
 
In defeat, junior first baseman Brittany Paulikas (Fords, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) was 2-for-3 with one RBI and her 10th double of the season while rookie catcher Gabriella Contey (Jersey City, N.J./Saint Dominic Academy) batted 2-for-4. Those two players accounted for half of NJCU's hits in the contest.  
 
Junior second baseman Brianna Rosario (Roselle, N.J./Abraham Clark) and sophomore left/center fielder Juliana Squeo (Carlstadt, N.J./Becton Regional) each doubled in the loss; Rosario had one RBI with a run and walk.
 
Jacqueline Cautela won for CSI (6-2), striking out six against three walks in 7.0 innings. She allowed two runs with eight hits.
 
Freshman right-handed pitcher Christina Mezey (Jersey City, N.J./Saint Dominic Academy) only allowed two earned runs (five total) and seven hits in 5.1 innings. She struck out six and walked none, but fell to 5-8.  Sophomore righty Melissa Mendoza (Union City, N.J./Union City) threw two-thirds of an inning in relief, allowing four runs—all unearned—and two hits.

 
In all, only two of CSI's nine runs were earned. Third baseman Christina Tufano batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs and Cautela and second baseman Ashley Notaro each tallied two hits. CSI only had one extra-base hit in the outcome. Designated player Nicole Meliak contributed two RBIs (1-for-3, one run) and center fielder Kristy Colangelo scored twice.
 
NJCU went ahead 2-0 on single runs in the first two innings—doubles by Rosario and Paulikas, the latter plating a run in the first inning and a bases-loaded walk to Rosario on a 3-2 pitch in the second. CSI got a run back when Colangelo was hit by a pitch in the second inning, stole third, and scored on a passed ball.
 
But with NJCU up 2-1, CSI had its big inning. After two singles and a passed ball, Tufano scored the tying run on a fielder's choice off the bat of Colangelo.  Meliak followed with a two-run go-ahead base hit. Errors extended the inning before a two-run double to left center by Tufano on her second at bat of the inning, capped the eight-run outburst.  
 
Game 2: College of Staten Island 6, New Jersey City University 1
Staten Island starter Nicolette Trapani has not allowed an earned run since March 1 and she limited NJCU to two hits in the 6-1 victory. Trapani struck out seven, walked no one, threw just 72 pitches and gave up one unearned run in the sixth inning while improving to 5-1. She carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Squeo broke it up.
 
CSI collected 13 hits, scoring twice in the second inning before adding four more in the fifth. Five players had two hits apiece for Staten Island. Cautela, the shortstop in game two, Tufano, right fielder Chyanne Gilliam, catcher Vanessa Joia and first baseman Kristen Meagher each produced two hits. Meagher scored twice and added an RBI triple. Meliak, who entered as a reserve, tallied two RBIs. Notaro scored twice.
 
Squeo had one of NJCU's two hits, doubling for the second time on the day. Senior righty Jayla Lee Vega (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) took the loss, falling to 6-6 overall. She only allowed two earned runs as the Knights committed three errors behind her. She struck out one and walked one.
 
CSI got the only runs it needed in the second as Meagher tripled with two outs for the first run, then scored on a single by Cautela. In the fifth, two errors extended the inning. The extra plate appearances led to four runs as Meliak had a two-run single and Tufano later added an infield RBI single. NJCU got its only run in the sixth when Vega reached on a leadoff error, Squeo doubled and a ground ball brought in the lone run.
 
#KnightNotes:

• All-Time Series with Staten Island: CSI leads the 'Bayonne Bridge Series', 29-17. It was the 45th and 46th meetings.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU is back in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. when it hosts Stockton University at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The Ospreys enter the doubleheader at 19-7, 3-3 in the NJAC and winners of their last five. Stockton leads the all-time series, 55-8, and has won the last 14 meetings.