FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Queens College baseball team split the final two games of its three game non-conference series with Merrimack Saturday afternoon at Hennekens Stadium.  After falling 11-1 in the opener, the Knights picked up an 8-5 win in the nightcap.

Junior Joseph Pidoto (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) led the Knights with four hits over the two games, while freshman Brian Watters (Brooklyn, N.Y.) drove in three runs, including the go-ahead runs in the game two win.  Junior Rob Beiter (Floral Park, N.Y.), junior Joe Morris (Syosset, N.Y.) and sophomore Thomas Parish (Cortland Manor, N.Y.) all scored two runs each for Queens.

In the opener, the Knights fell behind 4-0 after the Warriors plated four runs in the third inning.  QC's lone run of the game came across on an RBI single by Pidoto.

Merrimack put together multi-run innings in the fifth, seventh and fifth innings to pick up the 10 run victory.  PJ Browne pitched seven innings for the Warriors, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out 14.  Queens starter Joseph Broderick (West Islip, N.Y.) surrendered six runs over five innings.

In game two, trailing 1-0, the Knights pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third.  With the bases loaded, sophomore Karl Klesin (Glendale, N.Y.) delivered a two run single to left field, scoring Watters and Beiter.  Freshman Thomas Medina (Staten Island, N.Y.) followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Parish.

A three run sixth inning by Merrimack pushed the visitors ahead 4-3, before the Knights came back with two runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead.  Beiter reached on a bunt single, scoring Pidoto.  Watters then picked up an RBI via squeeze bunt, plating Morris.

The Warriors evened the score at five in the top of the seventh, when Bobby Losano scored on a fielder's choice.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Knights pushed across three runs, capitalizing on two errors by Merrimack.  With the bases loaded, Watters delivered a double down the right field line, scoring Morris and senior Matt Dawkins (Englewood, N.J.).  Parish then registered a sacrifice fly for the eighth run of the game.

The squad's starting third basemen, junior Jorge Ruiz (Shirley, N.Y.), took to the mound, and retired Merrimack in order to earn the save.

After recording the final two outs of the top of the eighth, junior Kyle Bell (Brockport, N.Y.) took the win for the Knights.  Westerman was charged with the loss for Merrimack.

The Knights are back in action Friday, Mar. 25, kicking off ECC play at Bridgeport.