FLUSHING, N.Y. – After a Saturday doubleheader split, the Queens College baseball team wrapped the four-game non-conference series against the Greyhounds of Assumption University with a Sunday afternoon doubleheader.
In game three of the series where both teams combined for 31 hits, 20 runs, and nine errors, the Knights' offense was led by sophomore right fielder
Jorsixt Jimenez (Flushing, N.Y.) (4-6 AB, HR, 2RBI, 2R) first four-hit performance of the year, junior
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, AZ.) (3-4 AB, 2B, 2R, BB) first three-hit performance as the duo combined for seven hits, two RBI, and four runs scored.
Whereas the trio of graduate student center fielder
Phillip Krpata (Farmingdale, N.Y.) (2-5 AB, RBI, R), junior third baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, CA) (2-5 AB, 2RBI, BB, R) and sophomore left fielder
Joey Patane (Commack, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, RBI, R) combined for six hits, four RBI, and three runs scored.
Finally redshirt junior shortstop
Francis Segarra (Bronxville, N.Y.) (1-5 AB, RBI), junior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-5 AB, RBI, BB), senior catcher
Nick Barreiros (Seaford, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) and pinch hitter junior
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) (1-1 AB, 2B, R) combined for four hits as the Knights offense totaled a season-high 17 hits but long ball off the Greyhounds bats would earn the visitors a 12-8 game three victory.
In the nightcap, both teams combined for 17 hits with the Knights offense recording 11 hits led by Alvarez
(3-4 AB, 2B, 3B, RBI, R) notching his first three-hit performance of the year, Jimenez
(2-3 AB, HR, 4RBI, 3R, 2BB) recording his sixth multi-hit game, Segarra's
(2-4 AB, 2B, HR, 5RBI, 2R, BB) fifth multi-hit game, and Jacobsen
(2-2 AB, 2RBI, R) notching his team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the year as they combined for nine hits, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored.
While Napolitano Jr
(1-4 AB, RBI, R) and freshman catcher
Bobby Gitto (Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, 2R, 2BB) combined for two hits with Gitto earning his first career start in the nightcap.
On the mound, freshman righty
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (W, 2-0 5.0 IP, 4H, 3ER, 4BB, 3K) and junior righty
Joshuel Rodriguez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) (2.0 IP, 2H, BB, K) combined to keep the hot bats of the Greyhounds at bay as they were limited to six hits with three runs scored as Queens earned a 14-3 game two victory and earned a 2-2 non-conference series split.
With the doubleheader split, Queens improved to 8-7 overall on the year.
GAME THREE RECAP (QUEENS 8, ASSUMPTION 12)
Game one got off a shaky start for the Knights as Assumption used three home runs to take a 5-0 run lead after the completion of the top of the first.
But Queens would quickly respond as Krpata opened the home half of the inning with a single to left before stealing second base. But a throwing error would allow Krpata to advance to third base. With no out, Jacobsen earned a four-pitch walk before Jimenez delivered with a RBI single to right field as the Knights cut their deficit down to 5-1. But it would be the lone run of the inning as the Greyhound avoided further damage.
In the top of the second, the Greyhounds used two extra-base hits to extend their lead to 6-1. But once again the Knights would answer back in the home frame.
Napolitano Jr. opened with a single to center field before the visitors got the first out but the junior would reach second base safely. With one out, Patane would drive in the second run of the game with a RBI single to left field but a fielding error would allow Patane to move to third base.
As Assumption got the second out and were one out from leaving Patane stranded on third, the Knights rallied. Jacobsen extended the inning with a RBI single to center field before Jimenez recorded his second hit of the game with a single to right field to advance Jacobsen to third.
With runners on the corner, Segarra delivered with a RBI single to right center field to bring home Jacobsen before Filip drove home the fourth run of the inning with a RBI single through the right side as Queens cut their deficit down to 6-5 after two complete innings of play.
As the Knights worked around their defense to keep the Greyhounds off the scoreboard, Queens would tie the game in the home of the third. For the second straight inning, Napolitano Jr. reached base as he recorded a double to center field. The Knights looked to have tied the game but Barreiros shot to left field would only result in a double to advance Napolitano Jr. to third base.
But with no outs and runners in scoring in position, the Greyhounds would get the first out before a RBI single to right field from Krpata scored Napolitano Jr. as Queens tied the game 6-6.
As Krpata stole second base, the Greyhounds avoided further damage to leave both runners stranded in scoring position.
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, the Greyhounds reclaimed the lead with a solo shot before a walk, and two singles extended their lead to 8-6.
In the bottom of the sixth Jimenez brought the Knights within one, 8-7 with his second home run of the year to open the home frame with a blast to left field. But Queens would leave the bases loaded as they were unable to take advantage of a walk, throwing error, and a hit by pitch.
The Greyhounds would take game three of the series as they added four runs over the final three innings of play as Queens left 15 base runners stranded to drop the opening game of Sunday's DH to the final score of 12-8.
GAME FOUR RECAP (QUEENS 14, ASSUMPTION 3)
For the second straight day, the run flow would slow down in the nightcap as rookie Vilardi who earned his second career start on the mound continued to keep the game scoreless for Queens.
Through the first three innings of play both teams combined to leave seven base runners stranded before the visitors opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning.
Taking advantage of a hit by pitch, the Greyhounds took a 1-0 lead with a single through the right side before Vilardi and the defense left the base runner stranded on second base.
Jacobsen would reach base on a hit by pitch to open the home half of the fourth but would be picked off as the Greyhounds got the first out. Next batter Alvarez recorded a triple down the right field line before a RBI single to right field from Napolitano Jr. tied the game at 1-1.
As a passed ball advanced Napolitano Jr. to second base, Gitto recorded his first career hit through the right side as Napolitano Jr. advanced to third base. A walk to senior second baseman
Jaden Rivera (Queens Village, N.Y.) (0-1 AB, 3BB, 2R) would load the bases before Krpata got hit by pitch to put the Knights up 2-1. With the bases still loaded Jimenez worked a six-pitch walk to bring home the third run of the game. With the bases still juiced and only one out, Segarra staring a 0-1 count laced a two-RBI double to left center field as Queens extended their lead to 5-1.
As the Greyhounds got a strikeout for the second out, the Knights had successfully batted around before Jacobsen cleared the bases with a two-RBI double to right center field as Queens took a commanding lead of 7-1 after the completion of the fourth inning.
Leading for the first time in the series, the Greyhounds looked to cut into the Queens' deficit as they used two walks and a single to bring the Knights' lead down to 7-2 but the rookie righty would dig deep to limit the damage to one run as he left the Greyhounds stranded on third and first base.
With the offense now clicking Queens responded in the home half of the fifth to score five runs on three hits as Jimenez recorded a RBI single, Segarra's three-run blast, and a RBI double from Alvarez to take a 12-2 lead.
The Greyhounds would get a run back in the sixth inning before Jimenez capped off the scoring on the day with his second home run of the day with a two-run blast to left field as the Knights extended their advantage to 14-3.
Rodriguez would retire the Greyhounds in order in the top of the seventh as Queens earned a 14-3 game two victory and earned a 2-2 series split against their non-conference foes.
Next Pitch
The Knights open the week in Caldwell, N.J. on Tuesday (Mar. 19) afternoon against the Cougars of Caldwell University in a non-conference game. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), Queens College Baseball (@QC_Baseball) and Instagram (qcknightsny), QC Baseball (qcbaseball)
