DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Continuing the four-game East Coast Conference series, the Queens College baseball team
(26-10 overall, 10-5 ECC) traveled to Dobbs Ferry as they matched up against the Mavericks of Mercy College
(10-28 overall, 6-13 ECC) at Mercy Field for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.
In game one, the offense tallied 14 hits led by rookie
Andrew Ramirez (Walnut, CA) (4-5 AB, 2 RBI) first career four-hit performance, while the trio of senior
Jayson Rodopoulos (Scarsdale, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, R, BB), sophomore
Juan De La Rosa (Bronx, N.Y.) (2-5 AB, RBI, R) and senior
Reed Hoskins (Freeport, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B) combined for six hits.
While sophomore
Marc Cisco (Long Island City, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R, 2BB), sophomore
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI, 2R), junior
Nick Barreiros (Seaford, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) and senior
Colin Diez (Levittown, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, RBI, BB) combined for four hits in game one.
But the Mavericks would erase the Knights 5-4 lead to score seven unanswered runs over four innings to take game one to the score of 11-5 as the Knights left 13 base runners stranded.
Looking to take the split, Queens tallied 12 hits in game two led by five multi-hits from the bats of Cisco
(2-3 AB, 2B, 2R, BB), rookie
Jorsixt Jimenez (Queens, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2R, BB), Filip
(2-4 AB, 3B, 2RBI), Rosa
(2-4 AB, RBI) and Ramirez
(2-3 AB), while the duo of Diez
(1-2 AB, R, BB) and sophomore
Mike Freda (Dix Hills, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) combined for two hits.
Filip, Rosa, Rodopoulos, and Hoskins combined for five RBI in the 5-3 game-two victory to earn the Saturday afternoon split.
On the mound in game two, senior
Liam Pulsipher (East Moriches, N.Y.) (W 3-2, 6.0 IP, 8H, 2ER, 4K) and junior
Danny Gargano (Middle Island, N.Y.) (S 9, 1.0 IP, 2H, ER, K) combined to limit the Mavericks to 10 hits, three earned runs, and five strikeouts as Pulsipher earned his third victory of the year and Gargano shut the door in the seventh inning for his ninth save of the year.
Game one on Saturday would be scoreless until the bottom of the third inning as the home side tallied four hits to take a 4-0 lead after the completion of three innings.
But the Knights would get a run back in the top of the fourth inning as Filip got hit by a pitch to open the frame. As the Mavericks got the first out, Hoskins earned a walk to give Queens two base runners before the home side got the second out.
But Ramirez would cut the score down to 4-1 with a RBI single up the middle as Filip scored from second base before the Mavericks avoided further trouble to get the last out.
As the Knights worked out of a two-out single to leave the Mavericks runner stranded on first base, the Knights responded in the top of the fifth inning with a four-run frame.
Rodopoulos began the fifth earning a walk before Cisco singled up the middle to give Queens two base runners. But the Mavericks would get the first out before the Knights began a one-out rally.
A RBI single to right center from Filip would bring Queens deficit down to 4-2 before Rosa notched a single to left field to bring the Knights within one run of tying the game, 4-3.
Summoned in a pinch-hit situation, Diez would deliver with a RBI single left center field as Filip scored to even the score at 4-4 before Ramirez gave Queens a 5-4 lead with their fifth straight single of the inning to score Rosa.
But the Mavericks would avoid any further damage as they induced a double play to end the top of the fifth.
As Mercy kept Queens off the bases, they would take a 9-5 lead after the completion of the seventh inning.
The Knights would have the opportunity to cut into their deficit in the eighth inning but the Mavericks would trouble as they left the bases loaded before adding two more runs in the home half of the eighth inning to even the series 1-1 with an 11-5 victory.
With the series tied 1-1 and the Knights looking to avoid getting swept, Queens got off to a strong start in the nightcap.
With one out, Cisco doubled to left center before Jimenez put behind a hitless game one with a single to the shortstop as Queens had runners on the corner with one out.
Filip would give the Knights an early 2-0 lead with a two-RBI triple to right center before the Mavericks got out of the top half of the first inning.
Beginning his outing on the mound with an early lead, Pulsipher would get the first out before three straight hits allowed the Mavericks to cut the Knights advantage down to 2-1. But the senior would leave two Mavericks stranded on base with a strikeout and a grounder back to him to keep the 2-1 lead intact.
Both pitchers in the nightcap would continue to keep the game at 2-1 as they continued to work around base runners in each inning as they left a combined five base runners stranded after the completion of four innings of play.
Looking to provide Pulsipher with insurance, the Knights would deliver in the top of the fifth inning. with one out, three straight singles from Cisco, Jimenez, and Filip would load the bases before Hoskins put the Knights up 3-1 he reached first on a fielders choice out at second.
With the additional run, Pulsipher would retire the Mavericks in order in the bottom of the fifth as Queens started to turn the pressure up.
Queens would add a run in the top of the sixth with a perfectly executed sac bunt from Rodopoulos as the Knights extended their advantage to 4-1.
But the Mavericks would respond with back-to-back singles to open the home half of the sixth as they looked to cut the Knights advantage down. Pulsipher would stay composed as the Knights would get three straight outs despite a run being scored.
With their lead cut down to 4-2 heading into the top of the seventh, Jimenez began the frame earning a walk before Mercy got two straight outs. But Rosa would add a RBI single through the right side as the Knights added an insurance run to take a 5-2 lead heading to the final inning of the game.
With Pulsipher day done, Queens turned to their closer Gargano to seal the win and earn the doubleheader split. The Middle Island native began the seventh with a strikeout before a double to left field saw the Mavericks put a runner in scoring position.
But Gargano would get the batter of the inning to fly out to Jimenez in right-center field before another double saw the Mavericks cut the score down to 5-3.
But down to their final out, Gargano would stay composed as he induced the fifth batter of the inning to ground out to Rosa at third base as Queens earned the doubleheader split with a 5-3 game two victory.
With the game two victory, the Knights earned their first conference road win in Dobbs Ferry since the 2017 season as they ended a seven-game ECC game losing streak to the Mavericks at Mercy Field.
UP NEXT: Head coach
Chris Reardon and the Knights conclude the four-game series on Sunday (Apr. 23) afternoon in Flushing against the Mavericks. First pitch set for 12:00 p.m.
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