FLUSHING, N.Y. – Looking to conclude their homestand on a high note, the Queens College softball team
(7-11 ECC) welcomed the Lions of Molloy University
(13-5 ECC) to Flushing for a Thursday afternoon East Coast Conference doubleheader on Senior Day.
Prior to the first pitch of game one, head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights celebrated their graduating seniors and their dedication to the softball program as they honored their eight seniors in
Allyson Dilday (Castle Rock, CO.), Myaisha Kelly (Albany, N.Y.), Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.),
Dani Roselli (Levittown, N.Y.), Katherine Gallagher (Orlando, FL.), Cyarra Alvarado (Coral Springs, FL), Ann Grimshaw (New Hyde Park, N.Y.), and
Joy Papagianopoulos (Wading River, N.Y.).
In game one the Knights tallied 10 hits led by junior
Dyana Budakowski (Washingtonville, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, HR, 3RBI, R), Murphy
(2-4 AB, R, BB), sophomore
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B) as the trio combined for six hits. While Alvarado
(1-5 AB), Grimshaw
(1-5 AB) Roselli
(1-4 AB, BB), and sophomore
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) combined for four hits in game one.
It would be a marathon in game one which lasted three hours as Dilday
(10.0 IP, 12H, 4ER, 5BB, 3K) put in 10 innings of work becoming the first Knight to put in 10 innings of work since ToniMarie Valeriano went 11 innings against Saint Thomas Aquinas College on April 18, 2018.
In the last 10 years, Thursday's game one would be the fifth game to go 10 innings but it would tough game one loss as the Knights were left nine base runners stranded.
While in the nightcap, the offense tallied five hits led by Grimshaw's
(2-3 AB, 2B) multi-hit performance, while the trio of Baez
(1-2 AB, R), Murphy
(1-2 AB, R, BB), and Zumpol
(1-1 AB, RBI, 2BB) combined for three hits.
The trio of Zumpol, sophomore
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.), and Budakowski combined for three RBI to lead the Knights to a 3-2 game two victory.
In the circle, Kelly
(3.0 IP, 6H, 2ER, K) and Budakowski
(4.0 IP, 3H, K) combined to limit the Lions to nine hits, two earned runs, and two strikeouts as Budakowski pitched four innings of relief to lead the Knights to a victory.
After a scoreless first inning in game one, the Lions took a 1-0 lead on a solo shot to left field in the top of the second inning before the Knights rallied back in the bottom frame.
The Lions opened the bottom of the second inning with two straight outs before Gallagher and Murphy earned back-to-back walks. Budakowski would keep her at-bat alive for seven pitches before she blasted the eighth pitch of the at-bat for her first home run of the season over left field for a three-run blast as Queens took a 3-1 lead after the completion of the second inning.
With the lead, Dilday fired two straight shutout innings as the Knights offense searched for runs.
In the home half of the fourth, with bases loaded and one out, the Lions would prevent the Knights from adding insurance runs as they induced a double play to end the inning.
Molloy would cut the Knights advantage down to 3-2 with a run in the top of the fifth before the Lions left two Knights stranded in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lions would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh with one out as the visitors took advantage of a walk before a single to right field with two outs saw the game tied 3-3.
Looking to walk it off, with one out, Grimshaw tallied a single through the right side before the Lions got the second out. Baez looked to have driven home the winning run as she blasted a shot to center field but a timely throw would beat the Knights runner as Molloy forced extras.
The workhorse Dilday would continue to keep the Knights in game one as she left five Molloy runners stranded in the eighth and the ninth inning of the game.
But the visitors would steal game one as they tallied two runs in the top of the 10
th inning as they held on to defeat the Knights to the score of 5-3.
In the nightcap, Kelly earned the game two start and kept the Lions off the scoreboard for two innings as the Knights searched for runs.
In the bottom of the second inning,
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) battled for an eight-pitch walk to begin the inning before Baez and Murphy added back-to-back singles to load the bases.
The Lions would get the first out, but with the bases loaded, Budakowski and Zumpol earned two straight walks to put the Knights up 2-0.
With one out in the top of the third, the Lions would tally a single but Kelly would keep the base runner stranded as the senior tallied her third straight shutout inning to keep her side in front.
Grimshaw began the home half of the third with a single but the Lions would induce a double play to prevent any further threat as they kept Queens advantage at 2-0.
Molloy would cut the Knights deficit down to 2-1 with a solo shot to center field to open the fourth inning of play before they tallied three straight singles.
With the bases loaded, Budakowski would relieve Kelly as Queens made defense changes. A single to center to field would see the Lions tie the game 2-2 but a timely throw from Baez would catch the second runner trying to score out at home as the Knights kept the game tied 2-2 and recorded their first out of the inning.
But with two runners in scoring position, Budakowski would keep both runners at bay as she got the next two batters out with a grounder back to her before inducing the last batter to pop out to Zumpol at third base to end the inning.
Looking to respond right away, Murphy earned a seven-pitch walk to begin the inning before Kelly reached first base on a fielder choice play at second base but Murphy would beat the throw as the Knights now had two runners and still no outs.
As the Lions got the first out, a single from Zumpol to left field would load the bases before Pescatore put the Knights up with a fielders choice RBI as Queens took a 3-2 lead.
Having retaken the lead, Budakowski would fire three straight shutout innings to lead the Knights to a 3-2 victory and earn a senior day split in their final home game of the 2023 season.
Next Pitch: Head coach
Amy Delmore and the Knights conclude the regular season on Saturday (Apr. 29) afternoon as they travel to Sparkill, N.Y. with a matchup against the Spartans of Saint Thomas Aquinas College. First pitch set for 12:00 p.m.
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