ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - Returning to Uniondale to conclude the four-game East Coast Conference series, the Queens College baseball team
(19-9 overall, 4-4 ECC) matched up against the Lions of Molloy University
(22-11 overall, 10-2) at Mitchel Field on Monday afternoon.
Despite the offense tallying 9-8 hits led by three multi-hit performances from senior
Jayson Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B, R), sophomore
Marc Cisco (2-3 AB, RBI, R) and senior
Anthony Fontana (Wantagh, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B, RBI, R), while the trio of senior
Reed Hoskins (Freeport, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), rookie
Jorsixt Jimenez (Queens, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI) and sophomore
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, BB) combined for three hits.
Cisco, Fontana, and Jimenez drove in three runs on the day, bu the Knights were unable to complete the comeback rally as they dropped their first ECC series of the season to the final score of 5-3.
On the mound, the senior duo of
Dean Fazah (Queens, N.Y.) (L 3-2, 6.0 IP, 8H, 4ER, 3BB) and
Stephen Castro(Bayside, N.Y.) (2.0 IP, 0H, ER, BB, K) combined to limit the Lions to eight hits with five earned runs and one strikeout.
With one out to begin the top of the first inning, Cisco earned a five-pitch walk before the Lions induced a double play to end the inning.
As Fazah opened the bottom of the first with a walk, a successful pick-off would eliminate the base runner as the senior retired the side in order.
With two outs in the top half of the second inning, Filip would extend the inning with a single through the right side but the Lions would get out of the inning as they induced the fourth batter of the inning to fly out to center field.
It would a shaky second inning of the play for Fazah as the Lions took advantage of a walk and a single but a fielding error would allow the home side to open the scoring before a single and a sac fly gave Molloy a 3-0 lead after two complete innings of play.
Queens wasted no time responding back as the Knights rallied with two outs in the top of the third.
Rodopoulos began the two-out rally with a double to left center field before Cisco cut the 3-0 deficit down to 3-1 with a RBI single to right field. Fontana would trim the score down to 3-2 with a RBI double to left field as Cisco rounded the bases.
As Fazah settled down to limit the Lions' bats, the Knights would leave a base runner stranded in the top of the fourth and fifth inning.
Molloy would extend their advantage to 4-2 as they took advantage of a fielders' choice at second base as Queens got the second out before they added an insurance run in the home half of the seventh inning for a 5-2 lead.
Down to their last six outs, Rodopoulos recorded his 13
th multi-hit game of the season with a single to right field before the Lions got the first out.
The center fielder would get picked off as the Lions looked to shut out the Knights in the eighth.
But Fontana's 13
th multi-hit game of the season with a single to left field would extend the inning before Hoskins singled to left field to put two runners on base.
Jimenez would record his team-leading 34
th RBI of the year with a single to left field as Fontana scored from second to bring Queens within two, 5-3.
But the Lions would leave Hoskins and Jimenez stranded before retiring the side in order in the top of the ninth to defeat the Knights to the final score of 5-3.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Chris Reardon and the Knights return to non-conference play on Wednesday (Apr. 12) afternoon as they welcome the Wildcats of Wilmington University (Del.) to Hennekens Stadium. First pitch set for 3:00 p.m.
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