MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Continuing their Myrtle Beach trip in weather conditions better than Friday night, the Queens College baseball team matched up against the Eagles of Post University for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.
It would be the third straight doubleheader against the Eagles in Myrtle Beach with the Knights holding a 3-1 edge over the Eagles who entered the week ranked T#10 in the East Region.
Unlike Friday night's game which saw the Knights open their scoring account in the bottom of the eighth inning, Saturday the runs would come early and often as the offense scored a total of 16 runs to get into their scoring groove.
In game one, the Knights were outhit 8-7 but base runners would prove to be the story as the Knights stole four bases on the day to earn a 7-3 victory in game one of the doubleheader.
Six players recorded hits led by junior third basemen
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, CA) (2-of-3 AB, 2B, RBI, R) who recorded his first multi-hit game of the year, while junior catcher
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, AZ.) (1-2 AB, HR, 2RBI, 2R) and freshmen left outfielder
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, 2RBI) combined for four RBI on the day.
Two Knights made their pitching debut with junior righty
Caleb Cassie (Vancouver, B.C.) (2.2 IP, 3H, 3R, 2ER, 3BB, 3K) getting his first career start in Knights color before junior lefty
Nate Rodriguez (Hamilton, N.J.)(W, 1-0 4.1 IP, 5H, BB, 2K) made his first appearance out of the bullpen to earn his first win of the year and senior righty
Danny Gargano (Middle Island, N.Y.) (S, 1 2.0 IP, 4K) closed the game to pick up his first save of the year.
While in the seven-inning nightcap, Queens wasted no time breaking out the bats as they outhit the Eagles 8-6 and scored nine runs throughout the first three innings to earn a 9-3 victory and complete the sweep.
For the second straight game, six Knights recorded hits led by multi-hit games from the sophomore pair of outfielders in
Jorsixt Jimenez (Flushing, N.Y.) (2-of-4 AB, 2B, 2RBI, R, SB), and l
Joey Patane (Commack, N.Y.) (2-of-3 AB, RBI, R), while senior center fielder
Phillip Krpata (Farmingdale, N.Y.) (1-of-2 AB, 2B, 2RBI, 2R, BB, 3SB), senior catcher
Nick Barreiros (Seaford, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B, RBI, R) and sophomore second baseman
Marc Cisco (Long Island City, N.Y.) (0-of-3 AB, RBI, R, BB) combined for four RBI on the day with Krpata racking up five stolen bases on the day.
On the mound sophomore righty
Christopher Naronis (Floral Park, N.Y.) (W, 1-0 4.0 IP, 6H, 3ER, BB, K) picked up his first win of the year, and junior righty
Nick Kozerski (Hicksville, N.Y.) (S, 1 3.0 IP, 2BB) earned his first save of the year to complete the Saturday afternoon sweep.
With the Saturday doubleheader sweep, the Knights improved to 3-0 and improved their record to 5-1 over the Eagles in Myrtle Beach.
GAME ONE RECAP (Queens 7 Post 3)
As Cassie worked out of a two-out double with a grounder to shortstop to end the top half of the first inning, Queen wasted no time getting to work. Krpata
(1-of-4 AB, 3B, R, BB, 2SB) opened the inning with a triple to right center before the Eagles got the first out. But as Jimenez earned a five-pitch walk, the Knights would utilize the speed of Krpata to execute a double steal as Queens quickly took a 1-0 lead after the first inning of play.
Cassie would retire the Eagles in order in the top of the second and his offense would reward with two more runs as Vilardi recorded his first career RBI before Napolitano Jr. scored on a wild pitch as Queens took a 3-0 lead.
The third inning would see the Eagles battle back as they were able to tie the game and end Cassie's day early on forcing the Knights to turn to the bullpen.
But the tie would be short-lived as Queens opened the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles from Cisco and Jimenez before a failed pick-off attempt advanced both runners into scoring position.
Queens would reclaim the lead with a Jacobsen sac fly out to left field as Queens took a 4-3 lead after the completion of four innings.
With the Knights in front, Rodriguez and his defense would get in sync as Queens started to pick up the momentum.
In the bottom of the fifth, Napolitano Jr. would put the Knights up 5-3 with a solo shot to left center field for his first home run of the year.
For every base runner the Eagles were able to get, the Knights' defense would work right behind their lefty to keep their two-run lead intact.
After the Eagles opened the top of the eighth with a single, Queens turned to program-record holder in Saves in Gargano to complete the job and the Middle Island native would pick up where he left off last year as he began his first appearance of the year with back to back strikeouts before inducing a liner to Krpata to end the inning and leave the base runner stranded on first base.
Queens would add two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 7-3 lead before Gargano officially closed the door in the top of the ninth with two more strikeouts and a grounder to Jacobsen for his first save of the year and help the Knights improve to 2-0 on the year.
GAME TWO RECAP (Queens 9 Post 3)
Queens wasted no time putting up early runs in the nightcap as they batted around in the top half of the first inning as the Eagles starting pitcher was unable to locate his pitches.
Using two hits and taking advantage of walks Queens would take a 5-0 lead after the completion of the top half of the first inning.
The Eagles would get a run back on Naronis on two hits to bring Queens' advantage down to 5-1 after the completion of the first inning.
But the Knights would answer right away as Krpata opened the second with a walk before stealing second and third base. Cisco would bring his center fielder home with a RBI grounder to shortstop as Queens extended their lead to 6-1.
After Naronis worked a clean bottom of the second inning, the Knights would take a commanding lead of 9-1 as they used three hits to score three runs.
The bottom of the third would see Naronis begin the inning with a strikeout before a walk and two singles loaded the bases as the Eagles looked to cut into Queens' advantage. But Naronis would keep the scoreline at 9-1 as he induced a double play to end the inning.
Naronis opened the bottom of the fourth with a single and hit by pitch but the sophomore would stay composed and keep the damage to two runs as Post was able to cut Queens' advantage down to 9-3 after the completion of four innings.
With the Floral Park native day done, the Knights turned to Kozerski to close out the game, the junior would pitch three shutout innings as he kept the Eagles hitless and allowed only two walks to pick up his first save of the year as Queens earned a 9-3 victory and complete the Saturday afternoon sweep as Queens improved to 3-0 on the year.
Next Pitch
The Knights conclude the Myrtle Beach trip on Sunday (Feb. 25) afternoon against the Griffins of Chestnut Hill College. First pitch is set for noon.
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