FLUSHING, N.Y. – Concluding their weekend homestand the Queens College softball team welcomed the Lions of Molloy University to town for an East Coast Conference doubleheader at QC Softball Field Sunday afternoon.
In game one the Knights were held to four hits led by freshman utility
Caylea Campbell's (Murrieta, CA) (2-4 AB, 2B, 2RBI) multi-hit performance, while the duo of junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y) (1-3 AB, R) and sophomore shortstop
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) (1-4 AB) combined for the two other hits.
In the circle senior righty
Arianna Fracchioni (Westbury, N.Y.) (L, 4-9 9.0 IP, 9H, 3R, ER, 2BB, K) matched a career-high effort pitching nine innings allowing nine hits, three runs scored but the Lions would steal game one to the final score of 3-2.
In the nightcap the Knights recorded eight hits led by multi-hit performances from Baez
(2-3 AB, BB) and sophomore left fielder
Brianna Call (Fishkill, N.Y.) (2-2 AB, 2 2B, R, BB) as the duo combined for four hits, two walks and a run scored.
While junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), Campbell
(1-3 AB), Fracchioni
(1-4 AB, RBI), and freshman right fielder
Sienna Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-2 AB) combined for four hits, and a RBI on the day.
In the circle, Campbell
(L, 9-8 7.0 IP, 3H, 3ER, 2BB, 4K) limited the Lions to three hits with three runs to go with four strikeouts but the Lions would complete the Sunday DH sweep the final score of 3-2.
With the DH loss, the Knights moved to 13-23 overall and 6-8 in ECC play with six games left on the docket.
GAME ONE RECAP (QUEENS 2, MOLLOY 3) Extra - 9 Innings
The Lions opened the scoring using two hits to take an early lead of 1-0.
Trialing 1-0, with one out in the bottom of the third, Zumpol would get hit by pitch before Baez single to right field as Queens put two runners on base. The Lions would get the second out before Campbell delivered with a two-RBI double to center field as Queens took a 2-1 lead following the conclusion of the third inning of play.
In the top of the fourth, Fracchioni worked out of trouble to keep the 2-1 lead intact before the Lions took advantage of a throwing error to tie the game at 2-2.
With the game tied both starters would continue to work out of trouble. In the top of the seventh with one out, the Lions would get the go-ahead run on first base with a single to right field before Fracchioni struck out the next batter. Queens would get out of the inning as senior catcher
Kristina Verruso (Whitestone, N.Y) caught the runner stealing second base to end the inning.
In a position to earn a walkoff victory, the Lions would get the first out before Parascandola singled down the left field line, however, the Lions would force extra innings as they retired the next two batters to end the inning.
As Fracchioni retired the Lions in order in the top of the eighth, Baez would get hit by pitch before the Lions got the first out. But a single to right field from Campbell would advance Baez to second base as Queens now had a runner in scoring position with one out.
But once again the Lions would get out of trouble with two straight outs.
In the top of the ninth, the visitors opened the frame with a single before the Knights retired the next two batters in a row. But a costly fielding error for the third out would allow the Lions to score the winning run before Queens were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth as the Lions earned a 3-2 game one victory.
GAME TWO RECAP (QUEENS 2, MOLLOY 3)
For the second straight game, the Lions opened the scoring using a two-run shot to left field for a 2-0 lead.
The Knights would put two runners on in the home frame of the first but the Lions would work out of trouble to keep their 2-0 lead intact.
Campbell would keep the Lions hitless over the next four innings of play as they looked for a comeback rally.
In the bottom of the third, Queens began the inning by getting two runners on before a fielder's choice play got the first out. But with a runner in scoring position, Fracchioni would get the Knights within one, 2-1 with a RBI single to right center field as senior first basemen
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) scored from second.
But the Lions would work out of trouble to leave two runners stranded in scoring position to end the third inning of play.
As Campbell retired the Lions in order in the top of the fourth, Call belted her first double of the day that just missed going over the left field fence before rookie Denino advanced the sophomore to third base with a timely sac bunt. With only one out, Call would score on a wild pitch as Queens tied the game at 2-2.
Both sides would be retired in order in the fifth inning of play before the Lions used just their third hit of the game to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth.
The Lions would get the first out in the bottom of the sixth but Call notched her second double of the day with a shot down the left field line as Queens now had the tying run in scoring position. As Denino sent a liner out to left field, the Lions left fielder would make the catch before the sophomore was unable to get back in time as the visitors got a double play to end the inning.
As Campbell retired the Lions in order for the third time in the game, Queens opened the bottom of the seventh with Zumpol recording a single to right center before Baez earned a walk.
A timely sac bunt from Murphy would advance both runners into scoring before Campbell got hit by pitch to load the bases. But it would be back-to-back heartbreaking losses for the Knights as the Lions were able to get the final two outs to complete the Sunday afternoon DH sweep with a game two victory to the final score of 3-2.
Next Pitch
The Knights conclude their ECC series against the Lions on Tuesday (Apr. 23) afternoon with a trip to Rockville Centre. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
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