FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing their homestand the Queens College softball team welcomed the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University to QC Softball Field in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
In game one of the doubleheader, the Knights recorded nine hits led by two multi-hit performances from senior first basemen
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2B, RBI), and senior left fielder
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (2-3 AB) as the duo combined for four hits and one RBI. While junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y) (1-3 AB, R), freshman utility
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (1-2 AB, BB), senior second baseman
Riley O'Connor (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R) and sophomore shortstop
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) combined for five hits and two runs scored.
In the circle senior righty
Arianna Fracchioni (Westbury, N.Y.) (W, 4-8 7.0 IP, 5H, R, 2BB, 4K) earned the complete game victory as she limited the Owls to five hits, one run scored, and tied a career-high four strikeouts to earn her fourth victory of the year.
In the nightcap, the Knights were held to one hit with senior catcher
Kristina Verruso (Whitestone, N.Y) (1-2 AB) recording the lone hit while Baez, Murphy, and freshman right fielder
Sienna Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) combined for three walks.
In the circle sophomore righty
Sam Voskinarian (East Northport, N.Y.) (L, 0-6 7.0 IP, 10H, 2R, 2BB) would be tagged with the tough loss as fielding errors allowed the Owls to score the two runs to earn a non-conference split Saturday afternoon.
With the DH split, the Knights moved to 13-21 overall on the year.
GAME ONE RECAP (QUEENS 2, SCSU 1)
It would be a pitcher's duel throughout the game as both starting pitchers were picked up their defense.
In the top of the second, with two outs a single and back-to-back walks would load the bases for the Owls but Fracchioni would keep the game scoreless as she induced a grounder back to her to end the inning.
Wilkinson opened the home half of the second with a single through the left side but the Owls would get a fielder's choice out at second base for the first out before a double play ended the inning.
With two outs, the Owls would take advantage of a drop fly ball to take a 1-0 lead after the top of the third inning.
As Fracchioni continued to keep the Knights' deficit at one, the offense would leave the bases loaded in the home of the fourth as the Owls continued to keep their 1-0 lead intact.
The Knights would begin the rally in the bottom of the sixth with a single from Baez before Murphy tied the game with a RBI double down the left field line to score Baez. As Campbell was walked, the Owls would keep the game tied at 1-1 to end the home half of the sixth.
Fracchioni would retire the Owls in order in the top of the seventh to give the Knights an opportunity to earn a walkoff victory.
O'Connor began the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle before a Parascandola advanced the senior to second base on a single to right field. Zumpol would deliver with a bunt single but as the junior beat the wide throw, the throwing error would allow O'Connor to score as Queens earned back-to-back days walkoff victory for a 2-1 non-conference victory.
GAME TWO RECAP (QUEENS 0, SCSU 2)
For the second straight game runs would be hard to come by.
But it would be the Owls who took advantage of four fielding errors to take a 2-0 lead with a run in the third and sixth inning of play.
In the bottom of the third as Denino battled for a seven-pitch walk, Zumpol would advance the freshman to second base before the North Babylon native stole third base. With the tying run 60 feet away and two outs, the Owls would avoid damage as they were able to keep Denino stranded at third to keep their 1-0 lead intact.
Voskinarian would continue to keep her side in the game but the Knights who had been held hitless would break the no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth. Verruso broke up the no-hitter with a single through the right side but the Owls would retire the next three batters in a row before adding an insurance run in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Baez earned a walk before Murphy reached first base on a fielder's choice but an interference call would see Baez get called out at second but a wild throw would allow Murphy to advance to second base. But once again the Owls would avoid damage before they retired in order in the home half of the seventh to earn the DH split.
Next Pitch
The Knights conclude the homestand with an East Coast Conference doubleheader on Sunday (Apr. 21) afternoon as they welcome the Lions of Molloy University to town. First pitch is set for noon.
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