SPARKILL, N.Y. – Continuing road play Monday afternoon the Queens College softball team made the trip to Sparkill for an East Coast Conference doubleheader against the 2023 defending champions St. Thomas Aquinas College at Spartan Field.
It would be a tightly contested game one before the Knights' comeback rally fell short to the final score of 3-2 with four Knights combining for seven hits. Leading the charge was junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y) (2-3 AB, 2B, HR, RBI, R) who recorded the lone RBI of the game, while the trio of junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B), freshman utility
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (2-3 AB, R), and senior second baseman
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B) combined for five hits and a run scored.
It would be a tough loss for Campbell
(L, 8-6 6.0 IP, 9H, 3ER, 2BB, 4K) in the circle as she held the Spartans to three runs, all coming in the third inning of play.
In the nightcap, Queens took an early lead of 1-0 but the Spartans offense would erupt for seven unanswered runs as the home side completed the Monday afternoon sweep to the final score of 7-1. The Knights recorded six hits led by Campbell
(2-3 AB, RBI) second multi-hit game of the day, while four Knights in Zumpol
(1-3 AB, R, BB), Baez
(1-3 AB), senior catcher
Kristina Verruso (Whitestone, N.Y) (1-2 AB, 2B, BB) and sophomore shortstop
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) combined for four hits and a run scored.
In the circle, senior
Arianna Fracchioni (Westbury, N.Y.) (L, 3-6 6.0 IP, 9H, 7R, 2ER, 3BB, 4K) would be tagged with the loss as fielding error allowed the Spartans to take advantage to complete the sweep.
With the DH loss, the Knights moved to 11-18 overall, and 5-5 in ECC play as Queens dropped their first ECC DH of the year.
Game One Recap (QUEENS 2, STAC 3)
Following two and a half innings of a scoreless game, the Spartans used four hits combined with a throwing error to take a 3-0 lead.
Trailing 3-0 to open the top of the fourth, Campbell began the inning with a single to center field before the home side retired the next two batters. Looking to keep the Knights off the scoreboard, Baez would extend the inning with a double to center field, but a throwing error would allow the Knights to cut into their deficit as Campbell scored to get the Knights within two, 3-1.
As Campbell continued to work around her defense to keep the deficit at 3-1, the Knights would be kept off the scoreboard. In the top of the sixth, with one out, Campbell notched her second hit of the game to get a base runner on but the Spartans would keep the rookie stranded at first base to end the inning with back-to-back outs.
As the Spartans were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth, Baez belted her team-tying fourth home run of the year to center field as Queens cut their deficit down to 3-2 to begin the final inning of the game.
But the Spartans would hold for a 3-2 victory as they retired the next three batters in a row to take game one.
Game Two Recap (QUEENS 1, STAC 7)
In the nightcap, Zumpol began the game with a single down the left field line before Baez got hit by pitch to give the Knights two base runners with no outs.
As a successful sac bunt advanced both runners in scoring position, Campbell would give the Knights an early lead of 1-0 with a RBI single to right field. But a double play would end the top of the top as the Spartans avoided further damage.
A fielding error opened the home half of the first before the Spartans tacked on four hits to take a 3-1 lead.
Queens would continue to get base runners over the next three innings of play but each time the Spartans would leave the runners stranded to keep their 3-1 lead intact.
The Spartans added insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to complete the doubleheader sweep to the final score of 7-1.
Next Pitch
An eight-game home stand opens on Wednesday (Apr. 17) afternoon as the Knights welcome the Setters of Pace University to town in non-conference play. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
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