GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Continuing non-conference play, the Queens College softball team made the local trip to Garden City in a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader at Janet L. Ficke Field against the Panthers of Adelphi University.
Matching up against a tough Panthers squad that has advanced to the East Regional championship series for two straight years, the Knights had their work cut out for them Wednesday.
In game one the Knights were able to cut a 2-0 deficit down to 2-1 before four runs in the bottom of the fifth saw the Panthers take a 6-1 lead and take game one. Queens were held to two hits led by senior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) and freshman
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (1-3 AB), while junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) and sophomore
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) worked a walk in their at-bats.
In the circle, Campbell
(L, 4-1 6.0 IP 8H, 5ER, 4BB, 2K) would suffer her first loss of the year
In the nightcap, the Knights would begin the charge taking a 2-0 lead but the Panthers offense would score 10 unanswered runs to complete the doubleheader sweep to the final score of 10-2.
The Knights offense recorded four hits led by Campbell
(1-2 AB, 2RBI) who drove in two runs, while the trip of junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R), Baez
(1-3 AB) and sophomore left fielder
Brianna Call (Fishkill, N.Y.) (1-2 AB) combined for three hits.
In the circle sophomore
Sam Voskinarian (East Northport, N.Y.) was dealt the loss against a hot-slugging Panthers offense.
With the loss the Knights see their overall record move to 5-6 on the year.
GAME ONE RECAP (Queens 1, Adelphi 6)
It would be a quiet start to the game as both starters allowed only one base runner through the first two innings of play.
In the top of the third Parascandola earned a walk to begin the inning before Call executed a successful bunt to advance Parascandola to second. But the sophomore would be left stranded on second base as the Panthers kept the Knights off the scoreboard.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the home half of the third taking advantage of a walk and fielding error to take a 2-0 lead.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the top of the fifth, Adelphi would get the first out as Campbell flew out to the right fielder before senior catcher
Kristina Verruso (Whitestone, N.Y.) got hit by pitch to give the Knights a base runner. After a fielding error allowed Parascandola to reach first base safely, Verruso would take advantage and advance to third base.
Call would deliver with her second successful sac bunt of the day to bring home Verruso as Queens cut their deficit down to 2-1.
In response, the Panthers offensive unit would tally five hits in the home half of the fifth to score four runs off the rookie Campbell as they took a commanding lead of 6-2.
In the sixth and seventh innings of play, the Knights would record a hit but were unable to cut into their deficit as they dropped game one to the score of 6-1.
GAME TWO RECAP (Queens 2, Adelphi 10)
Queens began game two on a strong note as the Knights loaded the bases with two hits and a walk to bring up Campbell.
With the bases juiced the rookie would deliver with a two-RBI single as the Knights took their first lead of the doubleheader. But the Panthers would avoid any further damage to keep the scoreline at 2-0 after the completion of the top of the first.
But the two runs would be the lone runs of the game for Queens as the home side scored 10 unanswered runs over the next four innings to defeat the Knights to the final score of 10-2 in five innings.
Next Pitch
The Knights return to action on Thursday (Mar. 21) afternoon as they open East Coast Conference play against the Mavericks of Mercy University in their home opener. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2:00 p.m.
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