FLUSHING, N.Y. – Opening the week with a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon the Queens College softball team welcomed CACC member Cougars of Caldwell University to QC Softball Field.
Over the two games, the Knights offense tallied nine hits led by junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y) (2-6 AB, 2B, R) third multi-hit game of the year, junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (2-7 AB, 2B, R), freshman utility
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (2-6 AB, 2B, RBI), senior first basemen
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (1-5 AB, RBI), senior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-5 AB, BB) and senior catcher
Kristina Verruso (Whitestone, N.Y) (1-5 AB, BB).
In game one the Knights would be shutout as they were limited to three but would leave six runners on bases in a 4-0 loss.
While in the nightcap, the Knights comeback rally would fall short to the final score of 3-2 as they left the bases loaded in the home half of the seventh.
with the DH sweep, the Knights move to 7-8 overall on the year.
Game One Recap (QUEENS 0, CALDWELL 4)
Both sides opened the game by leaving a runner stranded on base before the Cougars used a fielding error to take an early advantage of 1-0, but Campbell would leave the bases loaded to avoid further damage.
As Campbell continued to keep the Knights' deficit at 1-0, Queens would leave a runner stranded on base through the first four innings of play.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the home half of the fourth, Campbell recorded her third double of the year as the Knights had a runner in scoring position. Following a sac bunt to advance the runner into scoring position, the visitors would get the final two outs to keep their 1-0 lead intact.
As the Cougars added another run in the top of the fifth, Verusso opened the fifth with a single through the left side before another sac bunt advanced the senior into scoring position. But for the second straight inning Caldwell would keep the Knights off the scoreboard.
Caldwell would add more insurance runs in the top of the sixth as the Knights dropped their first home game of the year to the final score of 4-0.
Game Two Recap (QUEENS 2, CALDWELL 3)
The nightcap would be a defensive battle as both sides were limited to six hits.
The Cougars opened the scoring for the second straight game to a 1-0 lead but senior righty
Arianna Fracchioni (Westbury, N.Y.) would leave two Cougars stranded in scoring position.
Zumpol opened the home half of the inning with a double to right field before the Cougars got back-to-back strikeouts and looked to be keeping the Knights off the scoreboard for the eighth straight inning of the day. But Campbell wasted no time looking at pitches as she laced a RBI single to center field to score Zumpol to tie the game at 1-1.
Both pitchers kept the offense quiet over the next two innings before the Cougars took a 3-1 lead using a single and walk to open the top of the fourth. As a sac bunt advanced both runners into scoring position, a two RBI single would put the visitors up 3-1 before the Knights got the final two outs.
As the Knights' defense settled in to keep the Cougars off the scoreboard, the Knights' offense searched for runs to get back in the nightcap.
In the fifth inning, Wilkinson recorded a one-out single before the visitors got the second out. But a hit by pitch would put the tying at first base however Caldwell would get the final out to avoid any damage.
As the Cougars got a leadoff double to open the top of the sixth, Fracchioni would record three straight outs to keep their deficit at 3-1.
With one out in the home half of the sixth, Baez tallied a double to right center before Campbell earned a four-pitch walk to put the tying run on base. With one out, Murphy laced a RBI single to left field as Queens cut their deficit down to 3-2. As the Cougars got the second out on a fielder's choice, the Knights were able to get the tying run to third base. But once again the Cougars would get out of trouble as the final out of the inning to fly out in right field.
In the top of the seventh Fracchioni worked out of a leadoff walk to keep the scoreline at 3-2, the Knights would attempt to earn a hard-fought doubleheader split.
The Cougars opened the seventh getting Verruso to line out in left field before sophomore shortstop
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) got hit by pitch followed by Zumpol advancing the sophomore to second with a single up the middle. With the tying run at second base, a fielder's choice fielding error play would load the bases for the home side and still only one out.
With the tying run at third base and the winning run at second, the Cougars would escape with the doubleheader sweep as Baez struck out looking before the visitors got the dangerous bat of Campbell to fly out in left field as Caldwell earned a 3-2 nightcap victory.
Next Pitch
The Knights now turn their attention to East Coast Conference play on Saturday (Mar. 30) afternoon as they travel to Staten Island for a doubleheader against the Dolphins of College of Staten Island. First pitch is set for noon.
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