FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Queens College softball team split a crucial East Coast Conference double header with Dowling Saturday afternoon at QC Softball Field.  On the shoulders of two home runs, the Golden Lions took game one 2-1 before a four run rally in the bottom of the seventh pushed the Knights to an 8-7 game two win.

In the opener, Dowling's two runs came in the top of the first as Arianna La Puma and Victoria Gallagher led off the contest with back-to-back home runs.

The Knights were held in check by Vanessa Juengerkes until the fifth inning.  Freshman Lauren Pascual cut the deficit in half with a RBI single to right field, scoring pinch runner Mary Jane D'Agostino.

Juengerkes picked up the win, allowing just four hits and one run over seven innings, while striking out five.  ToniMarie Valeriano took the tough loss, allowing just the two runs while striking out eight.

In the finale, Dowling jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning, before adding five more runs in the second.  Gianna Gatto delivered a two-run  single to center, and Kelsey Larson followed with a three-run shot to center.

The Knights chopped away at the lead in the final three innings.  In the bottom of the fifth, junior Kyle Spillet connected on a two-run home run to center.  In the sixth, freshman Alyssa neal tripled to right, scoring sophomore Victoria Carlo.  Neal later scored on a double to left by Valeriano.

The Knights scored four runs in the seventh inning.  Carlo singled up the middle, plating Kristen Boody.  Neal delivered a single to left, scoring Kayla Morrissey.  Valeriano delivered the walk-off hit, as her single scored Carlo, and after the ball was mishandled in the outfield, Neal crossed the plate.

Pascual came on in relief in the second inning, and held Dowling to one run and four hits over 6.0 innings.  Juengerkes made the start, and later entered after a short outing by Victoria Mahoney.  She allowed five runs, five earned, in 6.1 innings, taking the loss.

The Knights are back in action Saturday afternoon at LIU Post.