ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – Following two heartbreaking East Coast Conference losses to Molloy University on Sunday afternoon in Flushing, the Queens College softball team traveled to Rockville Centre Tuesday afternoon to conclude the four-game ECC series against the Lions at Bob Klein Field.
In game one the Knights offense recorded 10 hits led by senior
Arianna Fracchioni (Westbury, N.Y.) (3-4 AB, HR, RBI, R) second three-hit performance, while the trio of junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2RBI), junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y) (2-3 AB, 2B, R, BB), and sophomore shortstop
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, R) notched multi-hit performances as the four Knights combined for nine hits, three RBI, and three runs scored.
While freshman utility
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (1-2 AB, HR, 3RBI, R, 2BB), (W, 10-8 7.0 IP, 11H, 5R, 2ER, 2BB, K) helped her own cause recording a three-run blast and held the Lions to five runs before the Knights middle infielder turned a double play to earn a 6-5 game one victory.
In the nightcap, the Knights offense would be limited to six hits led by Baez
(2-4 AB, R) ninth multi-hit game of the year, while Campbell
(1-2 AB, RBI, 2BB), senior second baseman
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-3 AB), Fracchioni
(1-3 AB) and freshman right fielder
Sienna Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) as they combined for four hits and a RBI.
In the circle, Fracchioni
(L, 4-10 5.2 IP, 11H, 6R, 4ER, 3BB, 2K) would be tagged with the loss as the Lions notched 11 hits, six runs
(four earned) to earn the Tuesday evening split.
With the DH split, the Knights moved to 14-24 overall and 7-9 in ECC play as Queens earned a key victory to stay in the running for a postseason spot.
GAME ONE RECAP (QUEENS 6, MOLLOY 5)
Queens wasted no time opening the scoring as with one out Baez laced a double down the left field line before senior first basemen
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) reached first base on a fielding error, while Baez advanced to third base.
With runners on the corner, Campbell would help her own cause with her team-leading fifth home run of the year as the rookie put the Knights up 3-0 with a shot over left field. After the Lions got the second out, Fracchioni would give the Knights a 4-0 lead with a solo shot over left field as Queens took a commanding lead of 4-0 for her first career home run.
The Lions would threaten in the home half of the first using one-out single and walk but Zumpol would turn a 5-3 double play to end the inning.
Molloy would cut Queens' lead down to 4-1 in the bottom of the second using three straight hits but Campbell would leave two runners stranded to keep the lead intact.
As Queens left a combined four runners stranded over the next three innings, the rookie Campbell would retire the Lions in order in the third and fourth inning of play.
In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, the Lions would threaten again using back-to-back singles but Campbell would keep the home side offense at bay to retire the next two batters to end the inning.
Looking to give Campbell more breathing room, Fracchioni opened the top of the sixth with a single to center field before a single from Parascandola put two runners on bases with no out.
The Lions would get the first out before Queens was able to advance both runners on the second out. With two outs, Zumpol battled to keep her at-bat alive before lacing a two-RBI single through the left side on the eighth pitch of her at-bat to put the Knights up 6-1 following the conclusion of the top of the sixth.
In the home of the sixth, the Lions used a fielding error and three hits to cut the Knights' advantage down to 6-4.
The Lions would work out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the scoreline at 6-4 to end the top of the seventh.
Leading by two, 6-4, Molloy opened the final inning of the game with a single and walk before the second hit of the inning got the home side within one run, 6-5.
With Campbell's pitch count past the century mark, the defense would deliver with Parascandola getting the first out at home plate on a fielder's choice play. But the second walk of the inning would load the base as the Lions now had the tying run at third and the winning run at second base.
The rookie Campbell battled in the circle as she looked to get out of trouble and preserve the win.
On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, she would induce a liner to Wilkinson at second base before the alert senior caught the runner short at second base as Queens turned a 46 double play to end the game and earn a 6-5 game one victory.
GAME TWO RECAP (QUEENS 1, MOLLOY 6)
It would be missed opportunities in the nightcap for the Knights as they left a combined 11 runners stranded on base.
Through the first three innings of play, Fracchioni would keep the Lions off the scoreboard before a three-run blast with a little help from the wind gave the home side a 3-0 lead.
Looking to respond, with one out, a fielding error and the Lions not pitching to Campbell earned the rookie her fourth walk of the doubleheader as Queens now had two runners on base. But Molloy would avoid damage as they were able to keep both runners stranded on base to keep their 3-0 lead intact.
The home side would add a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth for a commanding lead of 6-0 heading into the top of the seventh.
Molloy would get the first out before a single from Baez and a fielding error gave the Knights two runners on as Queens looked for a rally. Campbell would end the shutout with a RBI single to left field as Baez scored from second but the Lions would get the final two outs of the game to earn the ECC DH split Tuesday evening.
Next Pitch
The Knights will now quickly regroup as they wrap up their homestand on Wednesday (Apr. 24) afternoon by welcoming the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College to town for an ECC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.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)
