FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing East Coast Conference play, the Queens College softball team
(4-6 ECC) welcomed the Mavericks of Mercy College
(3-7 ECC) to Flushing for a Thursday afternoon doubleheader.
In game one, the offense out-hit the Mavericks 10-6 led by senior
Ann Grimshaw (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2B), and sophomore
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, RBI) as the duo knocked in multi-hits, while six other combined recorded a single each.
Zumpol, senior
Cyarra Alvarado (Coral Springs, FL) (1-3 AB, RBI), and junior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-1 AB, 2B, RBI, R) combined for three RBI in game one.
In the pitching circle, graduate student
Allyson Dilday (Castle Rock, CO.) (W 5-8, 7.0 IP, 6H, ER, 9K) tied a season-high nine strikeouts while limiting the bats of Mavericks to six hits as Queens walked it off in the bottom of the seventh with a 3-2 victory.
While in the nightcap, the offense tallied 10 hits for the second straight game led by Alvarado
(3-4 AB, 2 2B, R) first three-hit performance of the season, while the pair of junior
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, R), and sophomore
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (2-2 AB, 2BB) combined for four hits, as three other Knights recorded a hit apiece.
Senior
Myaisha Kelly (Albany, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, HR, 4RBI, R) and Zumpol
(1-3 AB, RBI) combined for five RBI but the Knights would leave 11 base runners stranded as they were forced to settle for a 6-5 game two loss.
In the pitching circle, junior
Dyana Budakowski (Washingtonville, N.Y.) (7.0 IP, 11H, 5ER, BB, 3K) would take the tough loss.
The Mavericks would take an early 1-0 lead as a solo shot with two outs to right field in the opening frame of the game.
Despite giving up the early shot, Dilday continued to keep the Mavericks at bay including working out a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth inning.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Knights would rally as Murphy
(1-3 AB) began the inning with a single up the middle before sophomore
Jillian Cosme (Franklin Square, N.Y.) was summoned to pinch run for the first baseman.
Baez would advance Cosme to second with a sac bunt before a Wilkinson appeared in a pinch hit situation. With one out, Wilkinson battled for six pitches before lacing a RBI double to left center field as the Knights tied the game 1-1.
As the Mavericks got the second out, Zumpol would put Queens in front with a RBI single up the middle as the Knights took a 2-1 lead after five complete innings of play.
Mercy opened the top of the sixth with a double down the left field line before Dilday got the first out of the inning but a throwing error to catch the runner off second base advancing to third would end up in the Knights dugout as the Mavericks tied the game 2-2.
But the Castle Rock native would work out of another hit in the inning as she got the next two batters to pop up to Alvarado at shortstop before she struck out the fifth batter of the inning to keep the game tied 2-2.
The Knights would leave the bases loaded in the home half of the sixth before Dilday retired the side in order in the top of the seventh giving Queens the chance to walk it off.
Sophomore
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R) began the bottom of the seventh with a single to third base before Zumpol delivered with a bunt single but a throwing error would allow Pescatore and Zumpol to advance into scoring position.
With runners in scoring position and no out, the Mavericks would get the first out before Alvarado delivered with a walk-off RBI single up the middle as Queens took game one to the score of 3-2 as the Knights improved their record to 4-5 in ECC play.
In the nightcap, both teams would leave a combined four runners on base in the first two innings before the Mavericks opened the scoring in the top of the third inning.
Five hits including a grand slam over left field would give the Mavericks a 5-0 lead after the top half of the third inning.
But Queens would waste no time answering back. As the Mavericks got Zumpol to ground out for the first out, Budakowski earned a five-pitch walk before Alvarado singled down the left field line to put two runners on base.
Grimshaw would earn a four-pitch walk before the Knights answered with their own grand slam in the third inning as Kelly blasted a shot to left field to bring the Knights deficit down to 5-4.
With one out, Murphy singled through the left side as Queens looked to tie the game but the Mavericks would get the remaining two outs to keep their 5-4 lead intact.
Two errors would allow the Mavericks to extend their advantage to 6-4 after the completion of the top of the fourth inning.
Trailing 6-4, the Knights would get the fifth run in the bottom of the fifth, with the bases loaded, Zumpol got hit by a pitch to bring Queens within one, 6-5.
But the Knights would leave the bases loaded as they were unable to take advantage of the opportunity.
As Budakowski continued to keep her Knights in the game, Queens would leave a runner stranded in the home half of the sixth before the tying run was left stranded on third base as the Knights were forced to settle for a doubleheader split dropping game two to the final score of 6-5.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights open a eight-game road stand beginning with a trip to Dobbs Ferry on Friday (Apr. 14) afternoon as they match up against the Mavericks to conclude their four-game series. First pitch set for 2:30 p.m.
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