Paul Sirakowski pitched a complete game (9 IP, 2ER, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K) and the Bearcats totaled 10 hits for a 4-2 win against the College of Staten Island on Friday afternoon at the CSI Baseball Complex.
Due to an afternoon downpour, the game started an hour later, but when it did the Bearcats quickly scored first and held on to win to start the championship series on a positive note.
Conor McCabe started the scoring early in the first inning with an RBI single to bring home Davic Capellan. Nicholas Valeriano reached base on an error and later that inning came around to score during a ground out.
The Dolphins quickly tied it in the top second on a two-run double by Anthony DiMarco.
The Bearcats jumped ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single by Jorge Keith Mercado to plate Capellan. Kemal Deljanin followed with an RBI single that scored Valeriano for a 4-2 advantage.
The two teams had their chances to score over the final innings, but pitching won out and Sirakowki earned his second win of the season against Staten Island.
The second game of the best-of-3 series is slated for Saturday 12:00 p.m. If necessary, the third game will follow at 3:00 p.m.
PAUL SIRAKOWSKI
"I had some success against Staten Island earlier in the year with a shutout I threw, but it was a team effort. I just went out there and did my thing. They had my back today and I had theirs."
HEAD COACH JOSE TORRES
"He (Paul) is a bulldog. He always wants the ball. He never gives in. The guy is a complete battler. You can see by his performance today that he came ready."