BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Apr. 19, 2019) - The Queens College baseball team rallied behind a complete game from starting pitcher Dennis Buckstein to capture a 4-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader with Bridgeport on Friday (Apr. 19) at Seaside Park. The host Purple Knights, however, took Game 2 after completing a rally of their own to win a 7-4 decision against QC.

Game One: Queens (NY) 4, Bridgeport 2
Queens did most of its damage in the third inning, scoring three runs in the top of the frame to build enough of a cushion for Buckstein to showcase his dominance. Ronmel Ocampo kicked off the one-out rally after being hit by a pitch; he advanced to second when Nick Font drew a walk and both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Jon Strauss then lifted a ball to right field that was misplayed, bringing home a run as the Knights took the lead. Back-to-back singles by Louis Antos and Anthony Scotti brought home a pair of runs to give QC the 3-0 edge. Scotti would single home another run in the fifth inning to put the Knights ahead by a 4-0 margin and despite Bridgeport mustering runs in the fifth and seventh innings, Buckstein remained dominant and undeterred.

The senior struck out ten batters---the third consecutive start in which he has fanned ten or more batters---while surrendering just two runs on seven hits with a walk. Buckstein is now 4-0 in five conference starts for the Knights, surrendering three earned runs or less in each outing. Scotti's two hits and two RBI led the Knights on the offensive side of the diamond.

Game Two: Bridgeport 7, Queens (NY) 4
In the second game, Queens starter Michael Lamneck dueled with UB hurler Jason Burger through three scoreless innings of baseball. The Knights struck in the top of the fourth inning for the game's first run as a two-out single by Matt Gutleber brought home Joe O'Rourke to give the visitors a 1-0 edge. Bridgeport evened the score on an RBI base hit by Tyler Popp in the bottom of the frame but the Knights answered with two runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Scotti and a run-scoring single from O'Rourke. In the bottom of the fifth, UB took the lead for good; the Purple Knights loaded the bases with none out, chasing Lamneck from the start as John Rodopoulos looked to keep Queens on top. A strikeout settled some nerves but a bases-loaded walk followed by a two-run single off the bat of Cory Listing gave the hosts a 4-3 edge. The Purple Knights added insurance with a three-run bottom of the sixth to keep Queens from mounting a serious charge back into the contest.

Due to the wild weather that is forecasted for the weekend, the Queens College baseball team will continue its series with Bridgeport on Monday (Apr. 22) and Tuesday (Apr. 23) in Flushing. Both games are set to begin at 3 p.m. and both will be nine-inning affairs at Hennekens Stadium.