Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

Bronx, NY – After taking a 6-2 lead, the Hawks gave up seven runs in the top of the sixth inning and would end up dropping a tough 9-6 decision after losing the first game of the doubleheader 9-0 to the College of Staten Island on Saturday afternoon at Murphy Field on the campus of Fordham University in the Bronx, NY.

In game one, the Hawks led off with two singles that would put runners in scoring position, but the next three batters all flied out to centerfield, stranding the runners. Then in the top of the second, Staten Island put eight runs on the board including a grand slam from sophomore third baseman Kaitlyn Flynn to take an 8-0 lead. Then in the top of the fifth, the Dolphins tacked on one more run to take a 9-0 lead. Hunter looked to grab a couple of runs in the bottom half of the inning to extend the game, but couldn't capitalize with runners on first and second and the game was ended via 8-run mercy rule.

Senior outfielder Stephanie Alves was the only Hawk to record more than one hit, finishing 2-for-3. Sophomore Lauren Stensland got the start on the mound, giving up seven earned runs in five innings to fall to 6-7 on the year.

Alves opened up the second game with a leadoff double and was brought home two batters later by junior short stop Megan McKenna (Rockaway, NY/Midwood). Senior catcher Jacqueline Frank (Broad Channel, NY/Stella Maris) then singled to move McKenna to third before sophomore third baseman Arielle Zieff (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond) got McKenna across the plate with a single. Frank was then brought home a batter later to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.

Hunter added another run in the bottom of the fourth when Alves brought home sophomore outfielder Josephine Estevez (Bronx, NY/Bronx Lab) who reached on a double. However, Staten Island was able to cut the lead in half on the bat of senior outfielder Jennifer Volpe who homered to left field. Frank then answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run shot over the fence in left-center to give the Hawks a 6-2 lead.

The lead then changed hands in the top of the sixth when the Dolphins scored seven runs, including a grand slam from senior Jillian Graniero that tied the game at six. The Hawks couldn't get anything going after this, as they would go three and out in the bottom half of the final two innings.

Sophomore Danielle Ponsiglione pitched the shutout in game despite not striking out a batter, and then three strikeouts while giving up five earned runs for the victory in game two. For the Hawks, junior Stephanie Damroth (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) gave up her seventh decision of the season after striking out six batters and allowing six earned runs in seven innings of action.

Alves once against led the Hawks from the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and batted in, while Zieff finished 3-for-4 with a run batted in and Frank was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and batted in.

Hunter (12-14, 6-4 CUNYAC) closes out the day with a doubleheader against N.Y. City Tech.