Box Score
FLUSHING, N.Y. – Anthony Mazzella went 2-for-4 with a double, homer and two RBI, while starting pitcher Steven Kaplan scattered eight hits and allowed just one earned run (four total) over seven innings Tuesday afternoon at Ray Metski Field, as the Queens College baseball team held on late for a 9-7, East Coast Conference victory over visiting Molloy College.
Connor Burke also went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI for the host Knights (4-16, 2-4 ECC), while Michael Shada (two walks) and Steven Varela (stolen base), who eventually picked up his second save of the season in relief, scored two runs apiece. Chris Ramanauskas hit a double and notched a RBI, while Warren Kelly and Robert Bernardo each had one hit and one run.
Molloy (11-11, 3-2 ECC) picked up two runs in the top of the first on Robert LaRusso's (2-for-5, double) run-scoring single and Frank Marchisello's sacrifice fly. However, QC knocked out Lions starter Justin Jorgensen seven batters into the contest with nobody out, en route to a five-spot to take the lead for good. Key at-bats in the frame included Mazzella's two-run double to left-center field, as well as single RBI by Kelly (single), Burke (bases-loaded walk) and Eduardo Torres (fielder's choice).
Mazzella's groundout in the bottom of the second plated Varela, while Varela's left-side single in the third stanza scored Burke to push the Knights' edge to 7-2.
After Ramanauskas's first-pitch, one-out double to right-center sent Shada home in the sixth inning to increase the QC lead to six, Molloy battled back for two runs in the seventh on RBI base-knocks by Juan Borbon (2-for-5, double) and Greg Walsh (groundout) to cut the Lions' deficit to 8-4.
Mazzella led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo homer to left-center – Queens's first long ball of the season – to give the hosts a 9-4 edge.
The Lions made things interesting in the top of the ninth when they scored three runs off QC reliever Jonathan Bobea (1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K in collegiate debut). However, Varela came on to get the final two outs of the contest to seal the Knights' victory.
The two teams will continue their five-game, week-long series Friday afternoon (April 1) at Mitchel Field in Uniondale, N.Y. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
