FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning to non-conference play for a midweek game, the Queens College baseball team (
20-9 overall) welcomed the Wildcats of Wilmington University
(19-12 overall) to Hennekens Stadium Wednesday afternoon.
Trailing 4-2, the Knights rallied in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game before a big five-run inning gave Queens the momentum to earn their 20
th win of the season to the final score of 9-8 over the Wildcats.
With the win, the Knights ended a two-game losing streak to the Wildcats as they earned their first victory over their non-conference foe for the first time since the 2016 season.
Playing under sunny and warm conditions, the offense tallied 11 hits led by sophomore
Marc Cisco's (3-3 AB, 2B, 3B, HR, 2RBI, 4R, 2BB) three-hit performance, and the duo of rookie
Jorsixt Jimenez (Queens, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B, 2RBI) and junior
Nick Barreiros (Seaford, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, R) recorded multi-hit performances. While senior
Anthony Fontana (Wantagh, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI), senior
Reed Hoskins (Freeport, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, BB), sophomore
Juan De La Rosa (Bronx, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R, BB) and freshman
Andrew Ramirez (Walnut, CA) (1-4 AB, RBI, R) combined for four hits.
On the mound, sophomore
Nick Kozerski (Hicksville, N.Y.) (2.1 IP, 6H, 4ER, BB, K), rookie
Christopher Naronis (Floral Park, N.Y) (W 4-2, 3.2 IP, 3K), junior
Jordan Sanabria (Woodside, N.Y.) (1.0 IP, 2H, ER, K), senior
Stephen Castro (Bayside, N.Y.) (0.1 IP, 3H, 3ER) and junior
Danny Gargano (Middle Island, N.Y.) (1.2 IP, 1H, 3K) combined for the win as Naronis earned the fourth victory of his young career, while Gargano shut the door for his eighth save of the season.
Kozerski began the top of the first inning with a clean inning before the offense went to work.
As the Wildcats got the first out, Cisco recorded his second triple of the season to left center field before Jimenez's eighth double of the season gave Queens an early 1-0 lead after the completion of the first inning.
The Wildcats would tally runs in the top of the second inning to tie the game before a three-run inning in the top of the third put the visitors up 4-1.
Cisco's day was just beginning as the sophomore recorded his third home run of the season with a solo shot to left field as the Knights cut the deficit down to 4-2 after three innings.
Naronis would retire the Wildcats in order in the top of the fourth and fifth as he kept the dangerous bats of the visitors at bay as Queens searched for more runs.
In the bottom of the fifth, senior
Jayson Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y.) would reach first on an error by the second baseman before Cisco recorded his third extra-base hit of the afternoon with a RBI double to left center field to score Rodopoulos, but a throwing error would allow the Long Island City to score as Queens tied the game 4-4.
On the mound, Naronis pitching in relief would go on to retire 10 straight batters before a hit by pitch saw the Wildcats get their first base runner on board since the top of the third. Unfazed, he would strike out his third batter of the afternoon to keep the game tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
Queens began the sixth frame earning back-to-back walks before Ramirez put the Knights up 5-4 with a RBI single to left field.
Still with no outs, a perfectly executed bunt from Barreiros would allow Queens to take advantage as a throwing error saw the Knights extend their lead to 7-4.
The Wildcats would finally get the first out to bring up Cisco to bat. Cisco who had recorded a triple, home run, and a double in his three previous was a single away from becoming the second Knight to hit for the cycle this season. But the sophomore would work a five-pitch walk as the Wildcats were unable to dislodge the Long Island City native all afternoon.
With runners on the corners, Jimenez recorded his second RBI of the afternoon with a single through the right side before Fontana recorded a RBI single through the right side to give Queens a commanding lead of 9-4 after six innings of play.
Relieving Naronis, Sanabria would work out of two hits as the Wildcats cut the Knights advantage down to 9-5 after seven innings.
Queens would run into trouble in the eighth inning as the visitors tallied three hits to load the bases.
With one out and bases loaded, Gargano entered the game as the Knights turned to their closer for the final five out of the game.
A hit by pitch and single would see the Wildcats cut the score down to 9-8 but the Middle Island would avoid further trouble as he left the bases load to keep the Knights in front.
Returning to get the final three outs, Gargano would seal the game as he struck out the side in order to earn his eighth save of the season as Queens ended a three-game losing streak to earn their 20
th win of the season.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Chris Reardon and the Knights return to East Coast Conference play for a four-game weekend series in Philadelphia, PA. beginning on Friday (Apr. 14) afternoon against the Lions of Lincoln University (PA.). First pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
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