EAST STROUDSBURG, PA. – It would be short rest for the Queens College baseball team as they travel to East Stroudsburg, PA. for an out-of-region non-conference tilt Tuesday afternoon against nationally ranked #17 East Stroudsburg University Warriors of the PSAC conference and Atlantic Region at Creekview Park.
The Knights offense outhit the Warriors 14-12 as they were led by three multi-hit performances with redshirt junior shortstop
Francis Segarra (Bronxville, N.Y.) (4-5 AB, RBI) recording his first four-hit performance of the year and seventh overall, while junior third baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, CA) (3-4 AB, R, BB) notched his third three-hit game and team-tying 10
th of the year and graduate student center fielder
Phillip Krpata (Farmingdale, N.Y.) (2-5 AB, HR, 3RBI, R) seventh multi-hit game of the year as they trio combined for nine hits, four RBI, and two runs scored.
While sophomore right fielder
Jorsixt Jimenez (Flushing, N.Y) (1-5 AB, 2B, R), sophomore
Joey Patane (Commack, N.Y.) (1-5 AB), and junior outfielder
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, R), senior catcher
Nick Barreiros (Seaford, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, BB) and Senior second baseman
Jaden Rivera (Queens Village, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI, R) combined for five hits, RBI, and three runs scored.
On the mound Junior righty
Nick Kozerski (Hicksville, N.Y.) (2.0 IP, 3H, 2ER), freshman lefty
Vinay Patel (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) (4.0 IP, 5H, ER, 4BB, K) and junior righty
Evan Christopher (North Babylon, N.Y.) (L, 1-1 2.2 IP 4H, 3ER, 3BB, 2K) were tallied for 12 hits, six earned as the Warriors earned a walk-off single to earn a 6-5 victory over the Knights.
With the loss, the Knights move to 12-9 on the year.
GAME RECAP (QUEENS 5, ESU 6)
Matching against the Warriors for the first time in program history, Queens began the game on a strong note as Krpata notched a single to give the Knights a base runner. As the Warriors got the first out, Segarra recorded a single to left field as Queens had runners on first and second base. But the home side would escape without any damage as they caught Krpata stealing base before ending the inning with a strikeout.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the home half of the first with a single and a RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. But a hit by pitch and wild pitch would advance a runner to third base before a sac fly put ESU up 2-0 following the conclusion of the inning.
Queens would little time trying to respond as Jacobsen opened the top of the second with a single through the right side before the Warriors got the first out. As a single to right center from Alvarez advanced Jacobsen to second base, a wild pitch would advance both runners into scoring position.
As Barreiros earned a six-pitch walk to load the bases, a fielder's choice RBI would allow the Knights to open the scoring as Jacobsen scored from third. With two out, Krpata starring a 1-2 count would lace his first home run of the year with a three RBI shot to left field as Queens took a 4-2 lead.
Jimenez would keep the line moving as he recorded his team-leading seventh double of the year before a wild pitch advanced the sophomore to third base. A RBI single to right field from Segarra would put the Knights up 5-2.
Kozerski who earned his first start of the year would work out of a one-out single to keep the base runner stranded at first to keep the scoreline at 5-2 following the completion of two innings.
In the top of the third inning Queens was unable to take advantage of a two-out back-to-back singles to leave both base runners stranded.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Knights turned to their bullpen with rookie Patel making his sixth appearance of the year.
The Warriors would tally a triple and a RBI single to cut Queens advantage down to 5-3 before Patel got the next batter to fly out in center fielder. As a throwing error advanced the runner to third base, the New Hyde Park native would induce a liner to Jacobsen before the junior turned a double play to end the inning and avoid further damage.
But for the third straight inning the Warriors would leave two Knights stranded on base as the visitors were unable to extend their advantage.
Patel would settle in as he kept the #17 team in the nation off the scoreboard despite facing runners on base over the next three innings of play including a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.
As the Warriors' defense continued to keep the Knights off the scoreboard, Queens turned to junior righty Christopher to close out the final three innings of the game. Christopher opened the seventh with a grounder to Jacobsen before a solo shot to left field brought the Warriors within one run, 5-4. After the righty got the second out, ESU would threaten with a two-out single and walk but Christopher would get the third out as he got the sixth batter of the inning with a swinging strikeout.
ESU would retire the Knights in order in the top of the eighth before Christopher delivered the Knights' first 1-2-3 outing on the mound in the bottom frame.
As the Knights left their 10
th base runner of the game stranded to end the top of the ninth, the Knights went into the bottom of the ninth leading 5-4 and looking to capture their third win over a nationally ranked opponent this season.
Christopher began the frame getting a fly out to center field but the #17 Warriors would tie the game 5-5 on a solo shot to right center field.
As Christopher walked the next two batters, he would get the second out with another fly out to center field as the Knights were now one out away from sending the game into extra innings.
But it would be the Warriors who would take the first ever meeting against the Knights as they were able to get a RBI single to left center field to steal the win away from Queens to the final score of 6-5 Tuesday afternoon.
Next Pitch
The Knights will have a day off in between before they return to East Coast Conference play on Thursday (Mar. 28) afternoon. Queens opens the four-game series in Dobbs Ferry against the Mavericks of Mercy University who are receiving votes in the NCBWA East Regional Poll. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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