DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – On Saturday evening the Queens College softball team concluded their Sunshine State trip with a match-up against Hillsdale College Chargers and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles on the campus of the Eagles at Radiology Associates Field.
The Knights met the Chargers for the first time in program history while meeting the Eagles for the second day in a row.
It would be the Chargers who would take the first meeting between both sides to the final score of 4-0 as the Knights were to find their offensive Rhythm.
In the circle, graduate student
Allyson Dilday (Castle Rock, CO.) would limit the Chargers to four hits in the complete game effort, while being charged for one run.
The nightcap would bring a different native led by sophomore
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (3-4 AB, RBI, 2R, 2SB) as the sophomore recorded her first three-hit game of the season while junior
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 3RBI, BB, SB) tallied her first multi-RBI game of the season as the Knights totaled six hits with junior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, R, SB), and sophomore
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, SB) recording a hit apiece.
The Knights left three runners on base in the first two innings of play before coming alive in the third inning. Led by Baez's first single of the evening through the left side before stealing second, a single by Wilkinson would advance the sophomore to third and in scoring position.
Wilkinson would steal second as the Knights evaded the double play, and with still only one out, Murphy would give Queens a 1-0 lead with a RBI single through the left side.
A sac bunt RBI by senior
Katherine Gallagher (Orlando, FL.) would double the Knights' advantage before the Eagles got the third out of the inning.
Leading for the first time with a lead, in the circle junior
Dyana Budakowski (Washingtonville, N.Y.) would battle in the bottom of the third as the Eagles tacked on two hits and cut the deficit down to 2-1.
Having their advantage cut down to 2-1, freshman
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) would get hit by a pitch to put a runner on first before the Knights advanced the rookie to third playing small ball.
With two outs and Parascandola on third, Baez would extend the Knights' lead to 3-1 with a RBI single through the left side.
With Budakowski now settled in, the Washingtonville native would go onto retire eight straight batters before the Eagles ended that streak with a double to left field in the bottom of the sixth. It would be the first hit the junior would allow since the bottom of the third inning. But the righty stay composed worked out of the inning and keeping the Knights lead at 3-1.
Looking to give their stater more cushion room to work with, Baez tallied her third hit of the game before Murphy recorded her second RBI of the game with two outs to right center field as Queens took a commanding lead of 4-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
With the Knights now looking to leave Sunshine State on a high note and only three outs away, the home team would play spoils.
The Eagles would get a runner on first as Budakowski missed the zone as she hit the first batter before a shot from the second batter blasted off her shin and gave the Eagles runners on the corner.
The junior would get the first out with a grounder to third base but the Eagles would cut the deficit down to 4-2 before a bunt single saw runners on the corners once again.
But once again the righty would get the second out at first base as Queens conceded the third run. However, a throw from Murphy looked to have gotten the runner out at third base as her throw beat the Eagles runner, but the field umpire ruled the Eagles runner safe to leave the Knights dejected.
But the Eagles would complete the comeback with back-to-back hits to steal the game away from the Knights to the final score of 5-4.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights return home as they rest up before traveling to local Garden City, N.Y. with a matchup against defending East Regional champions Panthers of Adelphi University on Thursday (Mar. 16) afternoon. First pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
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