STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Down to the last three games of East Coast Conference play, the Queens College baseball team entered their last conference series knowing a game one win will keep their ECC postseason hope alive. A full scenario will be laid out at the end. 
 
The Knights traveled to Staten Island to go up against new conference foe and fellow CUNY member College of Staten Island Dolphins in a Friday afternoon doubleheader at the CSI Baseball Complex with game one counting towards conference play and the nightcap counting towards the overall record
 
The Knights picked up the crucial ECC win as they rallied back from a 3-0 to defeat the Dolphins 7-5 in game one before suffering a 17-5 setback in game two. 
 
With the split, the Knights move to 12-11 overall, 10-9 in conference play, while the Dolphins moved to 7-15 overall, 6-13 in conference play. 
 
Game One: Queens: 7, Staten Island 5
 
The Knights had seven players record hits in game one with junior Corey Tingo (Selden, N.Y.) (3-4 AB, 2B) leading the way with a three-hit performance, while the freshmen duo of Brad Sakellarides (East Moriches, N.Y.) (2-5 AB, R, 3RBI) and Andrew Smith (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, R) produced multi-hit games. For the second time this season Sakellarides drove in a team-high three runs, while sophomore Jayson Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y) (1-5 AB, 2B, 2RBI) drove in two runs to lead the comeback. 
 
For the first four innings of play, the Knights left five runners on base as they were unable to take advantage. But the Dolphins opened the scoring book in the bottom of the third as they tallied game one starter Dean Fazah (Queens, N.Y.) (W 3-1, 5.1 IP, 8H, 3ER, BB, 5K) for four hits to take a 3-0 lead. 
 
The Knights would respond in the fifth inning as they tallied three hits for four runs as they took the lead for good. With one out, freshman Colin Diez (Levittown, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2R, 3BB)
worked a walk before stealing second base. After classmate Reed Hoskins (Freeport, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, the Knights had two runners on base before a balk advanced both runners in scoring position. Sakellarides would cut into the deficit with a two-RBI single past the diving Dolphins' second basemen as both runners plated home to bring the Knights within one (3-2).
 
Next batter freshman Andrew Smith (Hamptons Bay, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, R) singled to right field to continue the inning as Sakellarides advanced to second. Rodopoulos would give the Knights a 4-3 lead with a two-RBI double down the left-field line. 
 
The Knights would put crucial runs in the sixth inning as they extended their lead to 6-3 as the visitors took advantage of fielding errors. The Dolphins would cut the deficit down to 6-4 in the seventh inning. Sophomore Liam Pulsipher (East Moriches, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, 2B, RBI, 2BB) would add an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a RBI double as the Knights led 7-4 going into the final frame of the game. 
 
But the Dolphins would not go down without a fight as they started the ninth with a single up in the middle. But reliever Dylan Hughes (Merrick, N.Y.) (3.2 IP, 4H, ER, BB, 5K) stayed on course as he got the first batter with a swinging strikeout but the Dolphins runner would steal second. 
 
With a runner on second, Hughes got the second out with his second strikeout of the inning. The next batter singled to third base but a throwing error by the Knights would allow the Dolphins to cut the lead down to 7-5 while the runner advanced all the way to third. Hughes would end the game with his third strikeout of the inning as the Knights held on for a huge 7-5 ECC win. 
 
Game Two: Queens: 5, Staten Island 17
 
The Knights would drop game two 17-5 as the nightcap counted towards the overall record for both teams as they were held to six hits in a seven-inning game. 
 
Once again the home side would take an early lead as they led a 5-0 lead after the first inning of play. 
 
But the Knights would respond with five runs of their own in the second inning as they tallied four hits. The Dolphins would retake the lead in the bottom half to lead 7-5 but would put up the game away in the sixth inning as they put up 10 runs to take game two 17-5.  
   
Queens have two games left in ECC play with a doubleheader scheduled on Saturday (May 9) for a noon start time. While Bridgeport has one game left to play as they go up against the Lincoln University Lions starting at 3:00 pm on Saturday (May 9). Live stats link
 
Queens holds the tiebreaker over Bridgeport having won the conference series 2-1 back on March 27. Queens goes into their Saturday DH needing a sweep to clinch the fourth and final postseason spot. But if Queens splits against Staten Island, they would need a Bridgeport loss to get into postseason play.
 
UP NEXT: On Saturday (May 8) the Knights will start the day with their annual senior day ceremony before concluding the regular season schedule against the Dolphins. Game one is slated for a noon start time. 
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