GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Opening East Regional play with a Thursday afternoon doubleheader, the Queens College softball team matched up against defending East Regional champions and nationally ranked #15 Panthers of Adelphi University at Janet L. Ficke Field.
With a tough afternoon ahead of them, the Knights would hang in both games as a late rally fell short in game one to the final score of 5-2 before dropping the nightcap to the score of 3-0.
Over the two games, Queens would leave a combined 10 runners on base as they tallied nine hits. The Knights were led by a two-hit performance from junior
Dyana Budakowski (Washingtonville, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 3B, RBI) who tallied her first multi-hit game of the season, while in game two senior
Myaisha Kelly (Albany, N.Y.) (2-3 AB) recorded her first multi-hit game of the season.
The Panthers would take a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the third inning. With one out, sophomore
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, RBI, R) recorded the Knights' first hit of the afternoon but the Panthers would keep their 2-0 lead as they avoided any damage.
The Home would add insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth as they extended their lead to 5-0 while the Panthers' defense limited the Knights to two hits.
Trailing 5-0 heading into the top of the sixth, Budakowski singled through the left side before sophomore
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) singled to right center as Queens had runners on first and second.
With Queens threatening with two runners on base and no outs, the home side would keep their 5-0 lead as they evaded further damage by getting the next three batters.
Despite two hits in the bottom of the sixth, Budakowski would keep the scoreline at 5-0 heading into the final inning of play.
Down to their last three outs, junior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) began the inning with a single to left field before the Panthers got the first out.
A Panthers fielding error would give Queens runners on first and third before Pescatore reached base on a fielders choice but the Knights would cut their deficit down to 5-1.
Budakowski would bring the Knights closer with a triple to left field as the Knights cut the score down to 5-2.
But down to their last out, Baez would get hit by a pitch bringing the tying run to the plate. However, the Panthers would keep their composure as they got the last Knights batter to fly out to left field for the 5-2 victory over Queens.
In the nightcap, the Knights would be limited to three hits led by Kelly's two-hit performance as the offense left four runners on base.
In the circle Kelly limited the Panthers to five hits but three fielding errors would hurt the Knights as the offense was shut down as they fell 3-0 to drop their fourth straight meeting to the Panthers.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights continue non-conference action with a Saturday (Mar. 18) afternoon doubleheader as they welcome the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University to Flushing. First pitch set for 12:00 p.m.
All home games will be live-streamed on the
QC Sports Network and
ECC Network and fans can follow along on
live stats.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at
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