Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
CALDWELL, N.J. – In a battle of ranked teams in the latest NCAA Division II East Region Rankings on Thursday afternoon, the Queens College softball team, the No. 6 squad in the tally, was bested by the seventh-ranked squad, host Caldwell College. The Cougars took the first game in nine innings by a 2-1 count, before capturing the nightcap by a 3-1 decision.
Game 1: Caldwell 2, Queens 1 (9 inn.)
Pitchers Bryttne Santana of Queens and Brittany Pulido of Caldwell locked up in a pitcher's duel, as both teams combined for just six hits in the contest. With the game scoreless after eight innings of play, the ninth inning saw the international tiebreaker rule come into play for both sides. In Queens' (19-15) half of the inning, Samantha Stallone started on second base and moved to third on Allison Breakey's (1-for-3) sacrifice bunt. Three batters later, Stallone crossed the plate with the first run of the game when Carla Pennolino reached on an outfield error.
Caldwell's (16-14) initial runner scored in the first plate appearance of its half of the frame on a pair of errors, and following a pair of strategic intentional walks to load the bases, wrapped up the game when Mariah Lucena drew a walk in the next plate appearance to bring home Dia Cascone.
Santana (9-8 record) was the tough-luck loser, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out two. Pulido (10-3) scattered four hits and one walk to go with five strikeouts in the Cougars' victory.
Queens designated player, Caroline Carbone was the only player to notch multiple hits in the game, as she went 2-for-4 at the dish.
Game 2: Caldwell 3, Queens 1
All of the scoring in the contest came in the first inning of play. Stallone led off the game with a walk, and stole her 28th base of the season. After moving to third on Breakey's infield single, Stallone came home two batters later on a sacrifice fly by freshman catcher, Kaitlyn Crowley to put the Knights on the board.
Caldwell followed with a three-run, four-hit inning in the bottom of the first, to take the lead for good.
Queens' best chance to threaten from that point on came in the top of the sixth, when Anniela Vaccaro led off the inning with her 11th double of the year, but the Knights were unable to convert.
Pennolino and Caroline Carbone each notched one hit in the contest, while Faith Tessmer (8 H, 4 BB, 4 K) took the loss in the pitcher's circle.
Head coach Brian DeMasters' Knights are back in action Friday afternoon, when they welcome Molloy College for a 2 p.m., East Coast Conference doubleheader.
