HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 21, 2010) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team opened up its 2010 season by splitting a pair of games with the College of Staten Island in a season-opening doubleheader at Dobbelaar Field in Hoboken, N.J. After falling to the Dolphins 5-2 in the first game of the twinbill, Stevens found themselves down by two entering the bottom of the seventh before scoring three runs in the final frame to secure a thrilling, 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

Senior Eddie Daniele went 2-for-5 on the day with a double, two runs scored, and a steal, while junior catcher Denis Ackermann drove in a pair of runs.

Dolphins' sophomore Steve Hession (Staten Island, N.Y.) went 3-for-8 on the afternoon with a home run and a four RBI, while senior Tom DiPietro (Staten Island, N.Y.), junior Pat Gale (Staten Island, N.Y.), and sophomore Joe Cassano (Staten Island, N.Y.) each tallied two hits.

Game 1: CSI 5, Stevens 2 (9-innings)
Scoreless through two and two thirds, Dolphins' senior Tom DeWaters (Staten Island, N.Y.) drew a two-out walk before stealing second. Hession then drove in the game's first run with a single that just found its way past Ducks' second baseman Tom Phillips.

Stevens quickly responded in the bottom half of the third, tying the game on a two-out Mark Rasulo double to right center that scored Daniele. The game remained tied until the top of the fifth, when Hession blasted a three-run homer to right center – after a walk and hit-by-pitch – staking CSI to a 5-1 lead.

The Ducks would trim the margin to 5-2 in the bottom half of the stanza, when Daniele scored on a Dolphin error, but the Stevens bats remained silent the rest of the way, as Gale and CSI reliever Nick Tingos (Staten Island, N.Y.) combined for four scoreless innings down the stretch, surrendering just one hit.

Gale struck out 13, while allowing just one earned run on three hits in six innings, en route to his first victory of the season, while Tingos struck out five in three innings of work.

Game 2: Stevens 3, CSI 2 (7-innings)
CSI again struck first in the second game of the twinbill, capitalizing on an early Stevens' error to take a 1-0 lead through one. From there, Dolphins starter Paul Ciccazzo (Staten Island, N.Y.) looked to seize the day, tossing five-no-hit innings to preserve the slim CSI margin.

Hoping to give Ciccazzo more of a cushion, the Dolphins pushed an insurance run across the plate in the top of the sixth. Still down 2-0 in the seventh, Stevens' junior Ken Meerendonk, notched the Ducks' first hit since the eighth inning of game one, lacing a one-out single to right, breaking up Ciccazzo's no-hitter.

Stevens' junior outfielder Russ Grimes then reached on a CSI error before Ackermann recorded his first hit of the season with a game-tying double to left center. After Ciccazzo issued a walk to Daniele, CSI head coach Mike Mauro turned to his bullpen to try to close out the Ducks, bringing in Chris D'Antuono (Brooklyn, N.Y.), but the sophomore hurler promptly surrendered a single to Stevens junior Matt Glassman to load the bases before being called for a balk that plated the winning run.

Meerendonk allowed just one earned run, while striking out three en route to the complete-game win, while Ciccazzo fanned nine, giving up just two hits in six and a third.
Stevens returns to action on February 27 at American Baseball Coaches Association No. 6 Kean University on February 27.

The following is a play-by-play account of today's games:

FIRST GAME

College of Staten Is starters: 35/cf Hession; 16/2b Roman; 30/p Gale; 20/c DiPietro; 11/3b Sullivan; 15/lf Cassano; 3/ss Glennerster; 14/rf DeWaters; 10/1b DiCasoli;

Stevens starters: 11/2b Phillips; 3/cf Rasulo; 21/1b Meerendonk; 12/rf Grimes; 23/dh Alcorn; 31/c Ackermann; 13/3b Coutros; 10/lf Andrews; 27/ss E. Daniele; 35/p Finora;

First Inning: Stevens 0, CSI 0
College of Staten Is 1st - Hession grounded out to 2b. Roman grounded out to ss. Gale grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 L O B .

Stevens 1st - Phillips grounded out to p. Rasulo struck out swinging. Meerendonk struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Second Inning: Stevens 0, CSI 0
College of Staten Is 2nd - DiPietro flied out to cf. Sullivan out at first 1b to p. Cassano struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Stevens 2nd - Grimes walked. Alcorn struck out swinging. Ackermann struck out swinging. Grimes stole second, advanced to third on an error by c. Coutros struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1
L O B . 

Third Inning: Stevens 1, CSI 1
College of Staten Is 3rd - Glennerster lined out to lf. DeWaters grounded out to 3b. DiCasoli walked. DiCasoli stole second. Hession singled to second base, RBI; DiCasoli scored. Hession out at second c to ss, caught stealing. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Stevens 3rd - Andrews grounded out to 2b. E. Daniele singled to catcher. E. Daniele stole second. Phillips struck out swinging. Rasulo doubled to right center, RBI; E. Daniele scored. Meerendonk grounded out to p. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Fourth Inning: Stevens 1, CSI 1
College of Staten Is 4th - Roman grounded out to 3b. Gale singled to
center field. DiPietro grounded out to 2b; Gale advanced to second.
Sullivan struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Stevens 4th - Grimes struck out swinging. Alcorn struck out swinging.
Ackermann struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Fifth Inning: CSI 4, Stevens 2
College of Staten Is 5th - Cassano grounded out to 3b. Glennerster grounded out to ss. DeWaters walked. DiCasoli hit by pitch; DeWaters advanced to second. Hession homered to right center, 3
RBI; DiCasoli scored; DeWaters scored. Roman grounded out to 2b. 3 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. 

Stevens 5th - Coutros struck out swinging. Andrews struck out looking. E. Daniele doubled down the rf line. Phillips reached on an error by ss; E. Daniele scored, unearned. Phillips stole second. Rasulo grounded out to ss. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Sixth Inning: CSI 5, Stevens 2
College of Staten Is 6th - Hanas to p for Finora. Gale singled to shortstop. DiPietro popped up to ss. Sullivan reached on an error by 2b; Gale advanced to second. Cassano singled to shortstop, RBI; Sullivan advanced to second; Gale scored, unearned. Glennerster grounded out to p; Cassano advanced to second; Sullivan advanced to third. DeWaters struck out looking. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.

Stevens 6th - Meerendonk struck out swinging. Grimes reached on an error by 1b. Grimes advanced to second on a passed ball. Alcorn grounded out to ss. Ackermann struck out, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. 

Seventh Inning: CSI 5, Stevens 2
College of Staten Is 7th - DiCasoli grounded out to p. Hession struck out. Roman struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Stevens 7th - Tingos to p for Gale. Coutros struck out looking. Andrews flied out to rf. E. Daniele struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Eighth Inning: CSI 5, Stevens 2
College of Staten Is 8th - Gale to dh for Tingos. Tingos to p. Gale grounded out to ss. DiPietro singled to center field. Sullivan hit by pitch; DiPietro advanced to second. Cassano struck out swinging.
Glennerster grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Stevens 8th - Phillips singled up the middle. Phillips failed pickoff attempt, advanced to second on an error by p. Rasulo struck out swinging. Phillips advanced to third on a wild pitch. Meerendonk
struck out looking. Grimes flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
 
FINAL: CSI 5, Stevens 2
College of Staten Is 9th - Martelle to p for Hanas. DeWaters singled to right center. DiCasoli grounded out to c; DeWaters advanced to second. Hession grounded out to 3b. DeWaters advanced to third on a wild pitch. Roman struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 L O B .

Stevens 9th - Glassman to dh for Alcorn. Glassman struck out swinging. Ackermann grounded out to 2b. Coutros grounded out to p unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

SECOND GAME

College of Staten Is starters: 35/cf Hession; 16/2b Roman; 30/dh Gale; 20/c DiPietro; 11/3b Sullivan; 15/lf Cassano; 44/1b Todaro; 3/ss Glennerster; 14/rf DeWaters; 33/p Ciccazzo;

Stevens starters: 11/2b Phillips; 3/cf Rasulo; 21/p Meerendonk; 12/rf Grimes; 31/c Ackermann; 27/ss E. Daniele; 41/1b Glassman; 13/3b Coutros; 10/lf Andrews;

First Inning: CSI 1, Stevens 0
College of Staten Is 1st - Hession reached on an error by lf, advanced to second. Roman grounded out to 1b unassisted; Hession advanced to third. Gale grounded out to 3b, RBI; Hession scored, unearned. DiPietro struck out looking. 1 run, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 L O B .

Stevens 1st - Phillips struck out swinging. Rasulo hit by pitch. Meerendonk popped up to 2b. Grimes struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Second Inning: CSI 1, Stevens 0
College of Staten Is 2nd - Sullivan grounded out to ss. Cassano flied out to rf. Todaro grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 L O B .

Stevens 2nd - Ackermann lined out to cf. E. Daniele struck out swinging. Glassman flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 L O B.

Third Inning: CSI 1, Stevens 0
College of Staten Is 3rd - Glennerster grounded out to 2b. DeWaters struck out swinging. Hession popped up to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Stevens 3rd - Coutros struck out swinging. Andrews grounded out to p. Phillips flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Fourth Inning: CSI 1, Stevens 0
College of Staten Is 4th - Roman grounded out to 3b. Gale flied out to lf. DiPietro grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 L O B.

Stevens 4th - Rasulo struck out swinging. Meerendonk struck out looking. Grimes struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
L O B .

Fifth Inning: CSI 1, Stevens 0
College of Staten Is 5th - Sullivan singled up the middle. Cassano struck out swinging. Todaro grounded out to 3b; Sullivan advanced to second. Glennerster grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Stevens 5th - Ackermann out at first 1b to p. E. Daniele flied out to cf. Glassman struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. 

Sixth Inning: CSI 2, Stevens 0
College of Staten Is 6th - DeWaters grounded out to 1b unassisted. Hession singled to shortstop. Roman singled to right field; Hession advanced to third. Gale reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; Roman out at second ss to 2b; Hession scored. DiPietro singled through the left side, advanced to second on an error by cf; Gale advanced to third. Sullivan grounded out to ss. 1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 2
L O B .

Stevens 6th - Coutros grounded out to 3b. Andrews lined out to 1b. Phillips struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

FINAL: Stevens 3, CSI 2
College of Staten Is 7th - Cassano singled to left field. Todaro out at first rf to 1b; Cassano advanced to second. Glennerster grounded out to p. DeWaters flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Stevens 7th - Rasulo grounded out to 3b. Meerendonk singled to right field. Grimes reached on an error by ss; Meerendonk advanced to second. Ackermann doubled to left center, 2 RBI; Grimes scored, unearned; Meerendonk scored. E. Daniele walked. D'Antuono to p for Ciccazzo. Glassman singled to center field; E. Daniele advanced to second; Ackermann advanced to third. Ackermann scored on a balk. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.