FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Damian Costantino's name now represents for college baseball what Joe DiMaggio's means in the big leagues.

Costantino, who plays for Division III Salve Regina, broke New York Yankees third baseman Robin Ventura's NCAA record for consecutive games with a hit on Monday, singling against Mount Union (Ohio) to extend his run to 59.

In the second game on Monday, Constantino stretched the streak to 60.

Costantino, a 24-year-old outfielder from Warwick, R.I., hit an RBI single over the second base bag with one out in the third inning.

His teammates rushed the field to mob him as the play ended.

"As soon as the ball went over the pitcher's head, I knew it," Costantino said. "There is no emotion right now. I think the emotion will come when I tell my dad. It hasn't sunk in yet."

His father, Gary Costantino, has stomach cancer and could not make the trip to see his son break the record. Damian Costantino said he has called his father nightly to tell him how he's hitting.

"I know how it makes him feel," he said. "I can almost see him smiling over the phone. it's a warm feeling inside."

The hit came on a 2-1 count with one out and cut Mount Union's lead to 5-1. Mount Union went on to win the game 13-2.

Costantino had lined out to second in his first at-bat.

He tied the record the record Sunday with hits in both games of a doubleheader against Wesley (Md.) College.

Ventura, an All-Star who also played for the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox, set the old college mark when he hit in 58 straight games for Division I Oklahoma State in 1987.

He didn't even know his record was in jeopardy until this weekend.

"I know his name now," Ventura said Sunday. "I don't read a lot of newspapers now. I hope he does it. I just know how hard it is."

Costantino almost had his streak snapped in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, striking out in his first three at-bats. But he lined an 0-1 pitch just inside the first-base line for a one-out double in the seventh inning, extending his run to 57 games and keeping the record chase alive.

The major league record, of course, is held by DiMaggio, who hit safely in 56 consecutive games for the Yankees in 1941.

Costantino's streak began April 1, 2001, against Rhode Island College with a 1-for-2 day. He had one hit in each of the Seahawks' first eight games that season.

Costantino hit safely in the final 21 games of the 2001 season, then in all 35 games he played in 2002. Against Johnson & Wales last April, Costantino broke the NCAA Division III record by hitting safely in his 47th straight game.

Salve Regina opened this season Sunday.

Costantino entered the year hitting .459 for his career, with eight homers and 63 RBI.