The Queens College baseball team used a complete-game nine-hitter from sophomore Matthew Cascello (Staten Island, N.Y.) and a ninth-inning RBI single from junior Steven Varela (Glendale, N.Y.) to capture a 4-3 triumph against Southern Connecticut State University, ranked No. 7 in the latest College Baseball Lineup NCAA Division II poll and No. 10 in the NCBWA tally, in the front end of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Owls scored a 7-0 decision in the nightcap, earning two out of three contests from the Knights in the teams' three-game weekend series, as SCSU won Friday's opener in Flushing.
Friday: Southern Connecticut St. 16, Queens 1
Junior center fielder Warren Kelly (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) went 2-for-2 with a walk on the afternoon, and drove in sophomore outfielder Joe Salanitri (W. Islip, N.Y.) with the Knights' only run in the bottom of the second inning.
Saturday, Game 1: Queens 4, Southern Connecticut St. 3
After the Owls scored one run apiece in the first three innings off Cascello, the Knights used a three-run sixth frame to knot the contest at 3-all. Varela (1-for-2, BB) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and stole second. He came home four batters later on a double steal, before junior designated hitter Anthony Mazzella (Wantagh, N.Y.; 2-for-4) doubled home Salanitri (1-for-4) and came home two batters later on a passed ball.
In the top of the ninth inning, three straight, two-out singles gave QC a 4-3 lead, capped by Varela's base-knock sending home junior shortstop Danny Muller (No. Babylon, N.Y.). Cascello then pitched out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the ninth to give the Knights a victory against a top-10 opponent.
Saturday, Game 2: Southern Connecticut St. 7, Queens 0
Sophomore third baseman Mike Shada (Holtsville, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with a double and one stolen base in the contest, while Salanitri was 2-for-4 for Queens (3-3). Southern Connecticut (8-3) scored three runs over the first two innings to take control for good.
Head coach Tom Sowinski's Knights are back in action at home Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 13), when they play host to Dominican College in a 3 p.m. start at Ray Metski Field.
