FLUSHING, N.Y. – On Sunday afternoon East Coast Conference action began as the Queens College softball team
(1-1 ECC) welcomed the Saints of D'Youville University
(1-1 ECC) to QC Softball Field.
In game one the Knights tallied eight hits led by multi-hit performances from senior
Ann Grimshaw (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B) and sophomore
Dani Roselli (Levittown, N.Y.) (2-3 AB), while the duo of sophomore
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, 2B, RBI) and rookie
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) recorded two RBI.
While it would be another tough loss for graduate student
Allyson Dilday (Castle Rock, CO.) who pitched eight innings allowing five hits for five earned runs with five strikeouts.
While in the nightcap, Queens broke out the bats for a season-high 13 hits led by a career-day three-hit performance from sophomore
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) (3-4 AB, 2B, 2RBI, 3R, SB), while senior
Myaisha Kelly (Albany, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, HR, 3RBI, R), Grimshaw
(2-4 AB, 2RBI), junior
Dyana Budakowski (Washingtonville, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, R), and Roselli
(2-2 AB, BB) recorded multi-hit performances.
In relief, Kelly
(W 1-3, 3.2 IP, 4H, 2ER, BB, K) would earn her first win of the season as she starred with the bat and in the pitching circle.
As Dilday kept the Saints quiet, her offense would give her an early 1-0 lead after two complete innings of play.
In the bottom half of the second inning,
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, 2B, R) doubled to left field before the Saints for the first out but it would give Murphy the chance to advance to third.
Parascandola would put Queens up 1-0 with a sac bunt as Murphy scored from third.
Queens would double their advantage in the bottom of the third inning as sophomore
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) got hit by a pitch before stealing second base.
But the Saints would get the second out before Baez put Queens up 2-0 with a RBI double down the left field line as Zumpol scored from second base. But Queens would leave two runners stranded on base as they were unable to add more runs.
Having retired eight straight batters, Dilday would walk the next batter before allowing her first hit of the afternoon in the form of a long ball as the Saints tied the game 2-2 after four and half complete innings of play.
But Queens would leave five runners on base over the next five innings of play as another long ball saw the Knights open ECC play with a 5-2 game one loss in extra innings.
In the nightcap, It was the Saints who took an early lead as they scored a run in the first and second inning of play. But game two starter Budakowski would limit the damage in the second inning as she worked out of trouble with the bases loaded.
Needing to rally back, Murphy began the bottom of the second inning with her second double of the afternoon as she blasted a shot to left field before stealing third base.
As Roselli earned a five-pitch walk, sophomore
Riley O'Connor (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B, RBI, R) cut the deficit down to 2-1 with her first double of the season to left center field as Murphy scored from third and Roselli advanced to third.
With two runners in scoring position, Pescatore began her career day at the plate with a two-RBI double up the middle as the Knights took a 3-2 lead.
A sac bunt would advance the sophomore to third before Zumpol delivered with a sac fly out to left field as Queens took a 4-2 lead after two complete innings of play.
Both sides would leave two runners stranded in the third inning before the Saints' third long ball of the day saw them take a 5-4 lead forcing the Knights to make defensive changes.
As Kelly shifted into the lineup as a relief pitcher and in the batting lineup, the senior began her day getting the last two outs to end the top of the fourth inning.
Pescatore began the bottom of the fourth with her second hit of the afternoon before Kelly punched back for the Knights with her first career home run in Flushing as the senior blasted the first pitch of her at-bat over center field as Queens regained a 6-5 lead.
The Knights continued their inning as Zumpol got hit by a pitch before Budakowski singled down the left field line. Baez would advance both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt before Grimshaw extended the Knights lead to 7-5 with a RBI grounder to second base.
But the Saints showed no quit as they continued to respond back as they tied the game in the top of the fifth before reclaiming the lead in the top of the sixth.
However, Queens refused to go down without a fight as they rallied in the home half of the sixth inning.
With one out Budakowski's third multi-hit game of the season would give Queens a runner on first before the Saints got the second out but it would be enough to advance the junior to second.
Down to their last out of the inning, Grimshaw wasted no time looking at any pitcher as she tallied her team-leading fourth multi-hit game of the season with a RBI single up the middle as the Knights tied the game at 8-8 heading into the seventh frame.
As Kelly worked a clean inning in the top of the seventh, the Saints looked to be forcing a second straight extra-inning game as they got the first two outs.
But with Pescatore and Kelly having career days, the duo had other ideas. The sophomore tallied her first career three-hit performance with a single to second base before she stole second base.
The senior from Albany would deliver big as she recorded her first career three-RBI performance with a walk-off single to left field as Pescatore scored from second base as the Knights earned a comeback 9-8 victory and a doubleheader split to move to 1-1 in ECC play.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights continue East Coast Conference play on Tuesday (Mar. 28) afternoon as they welcome fellow CUNY member College of Staten Island Dolphins to QC Softball Field. First pitch set for 2:00 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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