Flushing, N.Y.  (March 28, 2013) - The Knights softball team continued their two-day home stand against ECC opponents with a sweep of the Dowling College Golden Lions. Game one went the Knights way 5-4, and game two could not see its completion as the game was called due to darkness after 5 and ½ innings of play with the Knights up 10-4.

Game One

The Knights offense pushed two runs across the plate in the fifth and sixth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Nicole Piretti lined a two-run single into right field to give the Knights a 3-2 lead after five. Queens extended their lead with two more runs in the sixth, thanks to RBI singles by Sara Schendel and Monique Roberge.

Isabelle Yaroch (Annandale, Va./Annandale), who got the start in the circle, settled down after allowing a first inning two-run home run by Stephanie Tarango. She shut down Dowling through the middle innings and only allowed two more runs in the top of the seventh. Yaroch got Dowling's Sam Laird to ground out to third, which left the bases loaded and gave the Knights the 5-4 victory.

The win was the Knights first ECC win of the season.

Game Two

The Knights lineup was alive in the bottom of the first, as 13 batters produced eight runs on eight hits in the inning off of Dowling starter Erika Nogan (0-1) and Alisa Fjelstad. Melissa Natale and Monique Roberge blasted two two-run home runs and Samantha Mattsson added a solo shot in the inning.  Carla Pennolino added an RBI single to center, and scored on a wild pitch in the first. Kellie Zeitler also put a Knight run on the scoreboard with an RBI fielder's choice.

In the pitcher's circle, Nicole Turato earned her first win of the season, allowing four runs (none earned) on four hits. She struck out three and walked two. She earned the win in a six-inning effort, as home plate umpire Ron Washington called the game after the top of the sixth due to darkness. At the point he called the game, the Knights were up 10-4 and when the score became final, the Knights earned their second win of the season in East Coast Conference Play.

The Knights visit non-conference opponent Southern Connecticut State tomorrow morning. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11 AM.