FLUSHING, N.Y. – In cloudy and chilly conditions, the Queens College softball team continued East Coast Conference action as they welcomed the two-time champions Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport to QC Softball Field Tuesday afternoon.
But the Knights were unable to find their offensive rhythm in game one as they dropped the opening game to the score of 5-0 before game two was called due to darkness with the home side trailing 9-3.
In game one, Queens were held hitless as they were unable to find their swing against ECC Pitcher of the Week Katie Burawski. The Knights earned two runners on base, with freshman
Amanda Baez (Smithtown, N.Y.) getting a hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning and senior
Marisa Sagona (North Babylon, N.Y.) earning a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning. but as the offense was shut down, the Knights would drop game one to the score of 5-0.
In game two, the visitors would take an early lead of 3-0 as they capitalize on two fielding errors in the top half of the first inning.
But Queens would respond right away in the home half of the first as junior
Cyarra Alvarado (Coral Spring, Fla) earned a walk to start the inning. Baez
(2-3 AB) would reach first base with a single as the visitors were unable to get the first but a muffed throw would allow Alvarado to advance to third.
With runners on the corners, senior
Danielle D'Angelo (Middle Island, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, RBI, R, BB) got the Knights on board with a RBI single to the pitcher as she drove home Alvarado from third to cut the deficit down to 3-1. The next batter senior
Ann Grimshaw (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) singled to right field to load the bases.
With no outs and bases loaded, the Purple Knights evaded further trouble as they got Baez out at home on a fielder's choice before a double play ended the inning to keep the score at 3-1.
The visitors would add a run in the second and fourth inning to extend their lead to 5-1.
In the bottom half of the fourth, junior
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, RBI, R) would reach first base as the first basemen muffed the throw before Murphy advanced to second as the Purple Knights got the first out at first base. Murphy would advance to third on a sac bunt before junior
Joy Papagianopoulos (Wading River, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, RBI) drove home Murphy with a RBI single through the left side to bring Queens within 5-2.
After the Knights earned back-to-back walks to load the bases, the Purple Knights turned to Burawski out of the bullpen to get the last out. Burawski would get Baez to pop out to third base as the Knights left three on bases.
Queens would start another rally in the bottom of the fifth as D'Angelo earned a walk before Grimshaw reached first base on a fielder's choice as they tried to get D'Angelo out at second but a throwing error would allow the Middle Island native to advance to third.
The next batter, Murphy brought the Knights within two, 5-3 with a RBI single through the right side but the Purple Knights would get the first out at third base as the Knights were caught trying to get a runner on third base on the single.
But once again Burawski would get out of the inning without any further damage as she struck out the last two batters to leave Murphy stranded on second base.
Bridgeport would tack on four runs in the top of the sixth to extend their advantage to 9-3. With light fading around QC Softball Field, Queens were down to their last three outs as they looked to complete a six-run deficit.
Papagianopoulos would get a hit by a pitch before freshman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, BB) delivered a bunt single but Papagianopoulos would be thrown out at third base as she tried to advance to third base on a single.
Alvarado would advance Zumpol to second with a sac bunt before Zumpol stole third but would be called out at third as she stepped off base for the last out. With the Knights trailing 9-3, the game was called due to darkness after sixth innings of play as the Knights were unable to avoid the sweep Tuesday afternoon.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights return to non-conference play as they welcome the Cougars to Caldwell University to Flushing Thursday (Apr. 7) afternoon. The first pitch is set for 2:30 P.M.
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