Yaphank, NY - The College of Mount Saint Vincent's baseball team was back on the diamond on Monday afternoon, looking to complete their four game set against Mount Saint Mary College. After the first two contests were split on Saturday, the competitive nature on both sides rang true again on Monday, as the Dolphins and Knights went 1-1; MSMC was able to outslug CMSV in game one by the score of 12-9 while the Dolphins won a 4-3 pitcher's duel in game two. 

In what has become a theme of 2021, the Dolphins opened the gates firing on all cylindars on the offensive end. Mount Saint Mary took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first, but junipr standout Michael Grisanti responded with a two run home run in the bottom half to give his team the lead. The runs didn't stop there, as sophomore Jake Pierre would add two more runs with a single to make it a 4-1 game. 

The Knights, however, showed offensive prowess of their own as they added six runs between the third and fourth innings, bringing the score to 7-4. But the Dolphins answered right back, as senior Anthony Nocero went deep for his second home run of 2021 to make it a two run game in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Eric Zimmermann kept his team alive with an RBI single in the following inning to cut the Knights' lead to one. After MSMC collected three more runs, Grisanti once again did his best to lead the Dolphins to victory, as his second home run of the contest - a three run shot that brought in Jake Blinstrub and Matt DiNorcia - resulted in a 10-9 score. But the Knights were able to add insurance runs late in the game, leading to the loss. 

Grisanti starred with two home runs and five RBI. Blinstrub added two hits and three runs scored to the stat sheet while Pierre's two RBI was only second to Grisanti. Junior Peter Sanderson surrendered five runs in four innings. Connor Pietrowski impressed in his collegiate debuted as he collected two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. 

It was once again Grisanti who got things going for the Dolphins in game two, as his groundout to third drove in Blinstrub, giving CMSV a one run lead after one. The Knights knotted things up at one in the fourth, but CMSV answered right back, as Zimmermann's first home run of 2021 helped the Dolphins regain their lead. Both Grisanti and Blinstrub collected RBI in the fifth, ultimately putting the game out of reach for the Knights. 

Senior Pedro Fortoso had a strong debut, as he allowed just three runs in six innings of work. The Brooklyn, New York native also struck out five Knights over that span, picking up the win in the process. Freshman Ivan Navarro recorded the save in his first career appearance and struck out one in the final inning of the game. Blinstrub led the way with three hits in three at-bats. 

These two teams haven't seen the last of each other this week. The Dolphins will hit the road and head back to Newburgh for a two game set with the Knights on Thursday.