Oakdale, N.Y. - In his first start since being named NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week last week, QC baseball pitcher Jonathan Russell threw seven innings, allowed three runs and struck out nine in a performance that saw the Knights fall to Dowling on Friday in Brookhaven.  Despite the respectable numbers, Russell took the loss and fell to 3-2 on the season.

Queens got on the board in the first as Lebro Burnette hit a one-out triple to center.  He later scored on a passed ball.  After retiring Dowling in order in the first, QC got another runner into scoring position in the second as Michael O'Dwyer singled and stole second.  He failed to score and Queens led 1-0 after an inning and a half.

The Golden Lions answered with three runs in the bottom of the second.  They got five hits all game, three of which came in the second.  A pair of doubles with a single in between accounted for the four Dowling runs.

Queens put runners in scoring position in the fourth and the ninth.  In the fourth, Dan Walsh singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.  In the final at-bat, Francesco Monastra and David Velazquez both singled but the Knights failed to score and lost 4-1.

In the game, Queens outhit Dowling, six to five.  Walsh had two hits.  Crissandry Javier came out of the pen to throw a scoreless eighth inning.  In fact, the Queens reliever has allowed just one earned run this season.

These two teams are right back at it on Saturday, April 12, as the Knights host a doubleheader from Flushing.  The first pitch of game onw is slated for noon.