Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
FLUSHING, N.Y. – The Queens College softball team, the No. 6 squad in this week's NCAA Division II East Region Rankings, scored a sweep in its East Coast Conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon against visiting New York Institute of Technology. The Knights took game one by a 4-0 count after scoring all of their runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, before using a pair of three-run innings to capture a 6-2 triumph in the nightcap.
Game 1: Queens 4, NYIT 0
Santana held the visiting Bears (4-17, 1-7 ECC) at bay throughout, scattering just three hits and one walk while striking out eight, to move to 9-5 on the season. The Knights (18-10, 7-3 ECC) struggled to get going offensively until the latter innings, including the four-run sixth which was the breakthrough Queens needed. In success, Anniela Vaccaro, Kaitlyn Crowley and Carla Pennolino all hit one-out singles to the left side of the field to load the bases for Caroline Carbone. Carbone then stepped up to rip her first triple of the season, clearing the bases and putting QC up by a 3-0 count. Nicole Turato then pinch-ran for Carbone, and scored on Santana's fielder's choice to account for the final score.
Santana, who threw 67 of her 99 pitches for strikes, allowed just one baserunner to third base, and one extra-base hit – a double to Melina Trujillo.
For Queens, Catherine Pastor continued her hitting with a 2-for-2 performance – including a double in the fifth inning that put two runners into scoring position.
Game 2: Queens 6, NYIT 2
Queens scored three runs apiece in the first and third innings, while starting pitcher Faith Tessmer scattered nine hits and two walks with six strikeouts in as many innings of work to move to 8-4 on the 2011 campaign.
In the first inning, Samantha Stallone (2-for-3) led off with a single, stole second base and later scored Crowley's sacrifice fly to kick off the scoring. One batter later, Pennolino (2-for-3) hit a first-pitch, two-run homer to left-center field, scoring Vaccaro (1-for-2, 2 R) in the process to push the hosts' lead to 3-0.
After the Bears got back one run in the top of the third, the Knights answered back with a three-spot to take control for good. Vaccaro led off with a solo homer to center field, before Pennolino scored on a passed ball. Tessmer then helped her own cause, lofting a sacrifice fly to plate Caroline Carbone.
Head coach Brian DeMasters's Queens side is back in action Saturday afternoon, when it is scheduled to travel to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., for a 1 p.m. East Coast Conference doubleheader at Mercy College.
