FLUSHING, N.Y.- The Queens College baseball pitching staff kept the Knights in both games of the East Coast Conference (ECC) doubleheader but the young and inexperienced Knights were unable to hang with the veteran offensive roster of the Mercy College Mavericks Saturday afternoon at Hennekens Stadium. 
 
The Knights played two closely contested games as both games were tied heading into the latter halves but the Mavericks busted three runs in the top of the ninth to take game one 7-4, before tallying six runs in the final two innings of game two to win 8-2 and sweeping the Knights in ECC play. 
 
With the losses, the Knights move to 7-8 overall, 5-7 in ECC play, while the Mavericks improved to 10-7 overall, 7-3 in ECC action.
 
Game One: Queens 4, Mercy 7
 
After three innings of scoreless play, the Mavericks tallied four runs on four hits including two home runs on game one starter Liam Pulsipher (East Moriches, N.Y.) (ND, 5.0 IP, 5H, 3ER, 5BB, 5K) in the top of the fourth inning. 
 
The Knights would quickly in the bottom frame for three runs on three hits. Freshman Teovaldo Estevez (Bronx, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, R, RBI) singled to left field before freshman Andrew Smith (Hamptons Bay, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2 2B, BB) doubled down the right field line to advance Estevez to third. After freshman Reed Hoskins (Freeport, N.Y.) worked a walk to load the bases, Estevez would score from third on a fielder's choice to cut into the deficit. 
 
Freshman Brad Sakellarides (East Moriches, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI) wasted no time as he laced a shot into the left field on the first pitch to score Hoskins from second. The Knights would find themselves trailing 4-3 as the Mavericks walked two more batters in the frame before ending the inning. 
 
As the Mavericks turned to their bullpen, they were quickly put under pressure as the Knights worked three straight walks to start the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Estevez delivered the tying run with a sac fly to right field to score the Knights runners from third. But the Knights would leave two stranded as Smith flew out to right field to end the inning. 
 
The Knights looked to have started the bottom of the eighth in a great position as junior Corey Tingo (Selden, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R, 2BB) doubled to left field to kick off the inning but found himself in no man's land as he slipped trying to get a jump to steal third base but was picked off by the Mavericks defense to take a runner out of scoring position. Following a single to put a runner on first and another walk to the Knights, the Mavericks reliever kept the home side quiet to prevent any further damage as the Knights stranded two runners on base to end the inning. 
 
The experience of the Mavericks offense was too much for the Knights as they tallied three runs on three hits to take a 7-4 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. After coming back from trailing 4-0 to tying the game 4-4, the Knights had hope they could rally back to win in walk-off fashion. The bottom of the ninth started in the Knights favors as the first two batters were walked making it 11 walks on the day. But the Mavericks defense stayed composed as they shut out the home side to seal the victory.
 
Despite earning 11 walks on the day, the Knights left 12 runners on bases as they fell 7-4 in game one.
 
Game Two: Queens 2, Mercy 8
 
In the nightcap Queens found themselves trailing early for the second time on the day as Mavericks tallied two hits for one run with two outs to start the final game of the series. But Queens quickly respond to tie the game in the bottom frame. After freshman Colin Diez (Levittown, N.Y.) earned a walk to start the inning and stolen second for his fourth steal of the series, he would advance to third as Smith grounded out to the second basemen. With two outs, Hoskins (1-3 AB, RBI) singled to left center driving home Diez as Queens responded with a run of their own. 
 
In the next home frame, sophomore Jayson Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R, SB) singled through the left side as Queens started the inning with another runner on base. Rodopoulous would advance to second on a sac bunt before stealing third base. With only one out, freshman Nick Barreiros (Seaford, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, 2B, RBI) drove home Rodopoulos with a double to left center as Queen would have their first lead (2-1) of the day after two innings of play 
 
But the Mavericks offense was not willing to go away as they tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third. With bases loaded and no outs, the Mavericks tied the game with a deep sac fly out to right field for the first out of the game. After intentionally walking the next batter, the Knights got a double play to end the inning with a 4-6-3 putout. 
 
For the next three innings of play, both sides were kept quiet as they were limited to one hit each. Tied 2-2 and going to the final two innings of play, the Mavericks struck late once again as they scored six runs on five hits to seal the series sweep from the Knights winning 8-2.
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will rest for five days before going up against Lincoln University (PA.) Lions in a three-game ECC series starting on Friday (Apr. 23) in Lincoln University, PA. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.
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