CALDWELL, N.J. – The non-conference portion of the 2023 regular season concluded Wednesday afternoon as the Queens College softball team matched up against the Cougars of Caldwell University at Caldwell Athletics Fields.
Facing a tough non-conference opponent, the Knights rallied back in game one as they cut a 4-0 deficit to tie the game 4-4 before the Cougars earned a walk-off 5-4 victory.
But in the nightcap, the Knights would be held to four hits as the Cougars earned the doubleheader sweep with a 9-1 victory in six innings.
In game one, the offense tallied eight hits as they were led by
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2B, R, BB), freshman
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, RBI, R) and sophomore
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) (2-3 AB) as the trio combined for six hits. While senior
Ann Grimshaw (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), and sophomore
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-3, RBI, R) combined for two hits.
In game two, the Knights were led by Zumpol
(1-2 AB, RBI), Grimshaw
(1-3 AB), junior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-3 AB), and Pescatore
(1-3 AB) as the offense was held to four hits on the afternoon.
The Knights found themselves trailing 4-0 after the completion of the first inning.
But Queens would quickly a run back as sophomore
Dani Roselli (Levittown, N.Y.) earned a walk before freshman
Brianna Call (Fishkill, N.Y.) was summoned to pinch run. A double to left center from Baez would advance Call to third base before senior
Katherine Gallagher (Orlando, FL.) cut the Knights deficit down to 4-1 with a RBI sac bunt as Call scored from third.
As graduate student
Allyson Dilday (Castle Rock, CO.) settled down, she would continue to keep the Cougars off the scoreboard.
In the top of the third inning, Zumpol took advantage of a throwing error before the sophomore scored later on in the inning to bring the Knight within two 4-2.
In the third, fourth, and fifth inning of play, Dilday would face the minimum as the Knights searched for runs.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the sixth inning of play, Queens would tie the game as the Knights recorded four hits.
Zumpol began the inning with a single to third base before the Cougars got the first out. Parascandola would bring the Knights within one, 4-3, with a RBI single to center field.
A single from Pescatore would give Queens two runners on base with still one out before Zumpol tied the game with a RBI single to center field as Queens rallied back to tie the game 4-4.
But the Cougars would avoid further runs as they got the last out to end the inning.
Dilday would work out of trouble in the bottom of the sixth inning with the potential winning run at third base.
A throwing error would allow Grimshaw to reach second base as the Knights had a base runner in scoring position to begin the top of the seventh inning.
A sac bunt would advance the potential fifth run for the Knights to third base, however, the Cougars would leave the base runner stranded at third as they got the last two outs to end the inning before the Cougars walked it off in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Knights to the score of 5-4.
In the nightcap, the Cougars took the early lead once again as they led 4-0 after the completion of the first inning.
The home would continue to keep the Knights off the bases before the home added another run in the bottom of the fifth.
The Knights would get a run back in the top of the fifth off a RBI single from Zumpol to cut their deficit down to 5-1.
But the Cougars would add two runs in the fifth and sixth run to defeat the Knights to the final score of 9-1 Wednesday afternoon.
Next Pitch: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights return to East Coast Conference play on Thursday (Apr. 27) afternoon as the Lions of Molloy University come to town. First pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
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