FLUSHING, N.Y. – The Queens College softball team opens up East Coast Conference play as the Knights welcome the Mavericks of Mercy University and travel to defending champions St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans on the weekend.
 
Coming off a doubleheader loss to a tough Adelphi University last week, the Knights open ECC play as they begin the week by welcoming the Mavericks to town on Thursday (Mar. 21) afternoon in their home opener before traveling to Sparkill, N.Y. on Saturday (Mar. 23) afternoon with a matchup against the 2023 ECC Champions Spartans.

Scouting the Knights (5-6 Overall Record)

• The Knights are coming off a 0-2 week as they fell to 2023 East Regional Finalist Adelphi University in their lone doubleheader of the week.
• Junior right fielder Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) leads the Knights batting .314 with 11 hits, one double, RBI with three walks and five runs scored.  
  • Pescatore has earned one ECC Honor Roll spot on the year.
• While rookie Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) leads the way on both sides of the field as the rookie holds a .304 batting average with seven hits, two doubles, one home run, and one run scored, with seven RBI in 23 AB.
  • On the circle, the rookie has recorded four wins in 40.0 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts.
  • On Monday (Mar. 11) Campbell was named ECC Pitcher & Rookie of the Week for her performance in the THE Spring Games.

Mercy University Mavericks Preview

Overall Record (Since 2000): 43-25
Current Streak: L3
Last Win: 3-2 (H, 4/13/23)
Last Loss: 4-5 (A, 4/14/23)

• The Mavericks enter the week with an overall record of 2-10 and are coming off a DH loss to Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday afternoon.
• The Knights lead the overall series 43-25 and are 25-11 at home against the Mavericks since 2000.
• Queens is looking to end a three-game losing streak with the Mavericks taking the 2023 season series to a record of 3-1. It was a DH split in Flushing before Mercy earned the sweep in Dobbs Ferry.
• Julianna Coluccio leads the team with a team-high batting average of .375 with six hits, three RBI, two runs scored, and one walk.
• While Nicole Smart has driven in a team-high eight runs to go with eight hits, two doubles with two runs scored, and a walk.
• In the circle, Angelina Oquendo and Mackayla Secoda have recorded a win apiece on the year

St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans Preview

Overall Record (Since 2000): 41-32
Current Streak: L17
Last Win: 1-0 (H, 4/22/18)
Last Loss: 1-3 (N, 5/5/23)

• The Spartans enter the week with an overall record of 9-13 and will match up against Molloy University before hosting the Knights on Saturday (Mar. 23) afternoon.  
• The Knights lead the overall series 41-32 but have been winless in the last 17 games against the Spartans.
• Queens is looking for their win over the Spartans since the 2018 season when they earned a DH split in Flushing on April 22, 2018.
• Eliana Raposo leads the offense with a team-high batting average of .397 with 27 hits, seven doubles, three triples, and one home run to go with 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, and two walks.
• Elyse Marcano has driven in a team-high 15 runs with 24 hits, three doubles, three triples, one home run, and 16 runs scored and holds a batting average of .338.
• In the circle, Raposo has totaled a team-high five wins in 71.0 innings while Sarah Clancy has recorded four wins in 65.2 innings pitched.

Next Pitch

The Knights return home on Tuesday (Mar. 26) afternoon as they welcome the Cougars of Caldwell University to town in non-conference play. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2:00 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 Softball (@qcsoftball), and Instagram (qcknightsny), qcsoftball (@qcsoftball)