FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing non-conference play, the Queens College softball team welcomed the NE10 Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University to town for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at QC Softball Field.
After battling back from a 3-0 deficit, Queens would take a 4-3 lead before the Penmen reclaimed a lead of 7-4. The Knights' rally would come short in game one as they fell 7-5 in the opener.
In game two, the Penmen would earn a 12-2 comeback over victory as the visitors scored 12 unanswered runs in the final three innings of play.
In game one, the Penmen would take a 3-0 lead as they scored in the third and fourth inning of play before the Knights responded back in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.
Junior
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, R, 2BB, SB) earned a walk to begin the inning before junior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI, SB) singled to right field to advance Murphy to third.
As junior
Kristian Verruso (Whitestone, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, R, 2BB, SB) earned the second walk of the inning to load the bases, sophomore
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R) reached on a throwing error by the Penmen third basemen before Wilkinson and Murphy took advantage of the error and scored as the Knights cut their deficit down to 3-2.
As Pescatore advanced to third, Verruso would steal home as the Knights tied the game at 3-3 not before Pescatore capitalized on a throwing error to help the Knights take a 4-3 lead.
After the Knights worked out of a fielding error in the top of the fifth, they would leave a base runner stranded in the bottom of the fifth but would maintain a 4-3 lead heading into the sixth inning.
Leading 4-3, the Penmen would rally back on three hits as they took advantage of a fielding error to tack on four runs to reclaim a 7-4 lead.
The Knights began the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Verruso and Pescatore but the Penmen would keep the home side at bay as they got the three outs to leave two runners on stranded on base.
After the defense left the Penmen stranded with a runner on base in the top of the seventh to keep their deficit at 7-4, the Knights looked to complete their comeback.
After the Penmen struck out the first batter, senior
Ann Grimshaw (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (1-4 AB) began the one-out rally with a single to second base.
Murphy would single to left center as the Knights put runners on first and second with one out not before both runners earned stolen bases putting them in scoring position.
Wilkinson would ground out to second but would cut the deficit down to 7-5.
But the Penmen would ensure there would be no comeback rally on hand as they got the last batter to foul out in third base territory to earn the 7-5 game one victory over the Knights.
In the nightcap, junior
Dyana Budakowski (Washingtonville, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, 2B, R) (6.0 IP, 10H, 5ER, 5K, 3BB) would limit the Penmen to three hits in the first four innings of play as she kept them off the scoreboard.
As Budakowski kept the visitors off the scoreboard, the Knights' offense would respond in the bottom of the third.
With one out, Budakowski doubled to left field before sophomore
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2B, RBI) put the Knights up 1-0 with a RBI single to center field.
The Knights would double their advantage in the bottom of the fourth as senior
Katherine Gallagher (Orlando, FL.) (1-3 AB) singled to center field giving the Knights a base runner. Gallagher would be replaced by Pescatore to pinch run and the sophomore would respond by stealing second.
Queens would take a 2-0 lead as sophomore
Jillian Cosme (Franklin Square, N.Y.) delivered with a RBI single down the right field line scoring Pescatore as the Knights took a 2-0 lead.
The Penmen would respond with 12 unanswered runs to defeat the Knights 12-2 in the nightcap as fielding errors would come back to haunt the home side.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights continue non-conference action with a Thursday (Mar. 23) afternoon doubleheader trip to Hockessin, Del with a matchup against CACC opponent Lightning of Goldey-Beacom College. First pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
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