JAN PHYL VILLAGE, FL – After bad weather cancelled Day 1 of the THE Spring Games, the Queens College softball team got their 2024 season going on Monday afternoon at Auburndale Sports Complex against the Saints of Thomas More University and the Golden Knights of The College of Saint Rose.
Game One vs. Thomas More University
Facing the Saints for the first time in program history, the Knights notched 10 hits as they were led by senior first basemen
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, HR, 4RBI, 2R) who drove in four runs, while rookie
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (1-3 AB, 2B, 2RBI) making her debut tallied in two runs with a double, while the trio of junior
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (2-5 AB, 2B, RBI), junior
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, HR, 2R), and sophomore
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI) combined for four hits and drove in three runs on the day.
In the circle, it would be an excellent debut for Campbell
(W, 1-0 6.0 IP, 2H, BB, 3K) who earned the first start of her career and would shut down the Saints' offense as she limited them to two hits, one walk and struck out three batters to earn the win as Queens earned a 9-2 victory.
The offense wasted no time in getting going for the Knights as they scored six runs through the first three innings. While Campbell settled in from the first pitch as she kept the Saints off the bases through the first two innings.
The Saints would get their first hit of the afternoon in the bottom of the third but the rookie would retire the next batter with a grounder to second base to end the inning.
Thomas More would threaten in the bottom of the fourth as they recorded a one-out double and a walk as they looked to unsettle the freshman. But Campbell would get the next two batters out as the defense picked up their rookie to keep the Knights in front to the score of 6-0.
Queens would record three more runs in the fifth and sixth as they completed a 9-2 victory and earned their first season opener victory since the 2018 season.
Game Two vs. The College of Saint Rose
In game two, the offense would be limited to five hits with Zumpol
(3-4 AB, R) notching her second straight multi-hit performance, while Baez
(1-2 AB, 2BB) and sophomore
Brianna Call (Fishkill, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) recorded the two other hits on the afternoon.
While the duo of Murphy and senior
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) drove in the two runs on the day.
While in the circle sophomore
Sam Voskinarian (L, 0-1 4.0 IP, 8H, ER, 3BB, K) took a tough loss as she allowed eight hits with one earned run as the Golden Knights defeated the Knights to the final score of 5-2.
Fielding errors would hurt the Knights in their second game of the day as the Golden Knights took advantage to score a run in the top of the second and three in the third.
Trailing 4-0, Queens would get on board in the bottom of the third as a walk and sac fly cut the Knights' deficit in half to the score of 4-2. But Queens would leave the bases loaded as Saint Rose was able to avoid further damage.
With the Knights' offense quiet, Saint Rose would get an insurance run in the top of the seventh as they earned a 5-2 victory over the Knights.
Next Pitch
The Knights stay in Jan Phyl Village for two more games as they match up against Dominican University of New York and Winona State University on Wednesday (Mar. 6) morning. The first pitch is set for 10:15 a.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)
