FLUSHING, N.Y. – Looking to conclude their home portion of the 2024 schedule on a strong and keep their East Coast Conference postseason hopes alive, the Queens College softball team welcomed defending champions St. Thomas Aquinas College to QC Softball Field Wednesday afternoon in an ECC DH.
In game one the Knights offense recorded seven hits led by three multi-hit performances from junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, R), senior first basemen
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2B, RBI) and senior
Arianna Fracchioni (Westbury, N.Y.) (2-3 AB) as the trio combined for six hits and a RBI.
While freshman utility
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (1-3 AB) (L, 7.0 IP, 12H, 8R, 3ER, 5BB, 5K) recorded a hit but would be tagged with the loss as the Spartans notched 12 hits, eight runs scored
(three earned) and five strikeouts on the day as the Knights fell to the final score of 8-2.
In the nightcap, the Knights offense tallied seven hits for the second straight game led by Zumpol's
(2-3 AB, 2B, R) team-leading 10
th multi-hit game of the year, while junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y) (1-4 AB, 2RBI), senior catcher
Kristina Verruso (Whitestone, N.Y) (1-3 AB, 2B, RBI, R), sophomore shortstop
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R), sophomore right fielder
Brianna Call (Fishkill, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B, R) and Fracchioni
(1-3 AB) combined for five hits, three RBI and three runs scored.
In the circle, Fracchioni
(W, 5-8 7.0 IP, 6H, 3BB) limited the Spartans to six hits and three walks as she fired her first career shutout to hold the Spartans scoreless as Queens earned a crucial 4-0 victory to earn an ECC split.
With the DH split, the Knights moved to 15-25 overall and 8-10 in ECC play as Queens kept their postseason hopes alive with two games left to play on the docket. Wednesday's game two victory over the Spartans also helped Queens end a 20-game losing streak over their ECC foe as the Knights earned their first victory since the 1-0 shutout on April 22, 2018.
GAME ONE RECAP (QUEENS 2, STAC 8)
After two scoreless innings of play, the Spartans opened the scoring taking a 3-0 lead as they took advantage of a fielding error before using two walks and a single in the top of the third inning.
But the Knights would respond right away in the home half of the third as with one out, Zumpol recorded a single to left field. But as the Spartans got the second out, Murphy would notch a RBI double to right center field as Queens cut their deficit down to 3-1.
Campbell would keep the inning alive with a single to right field as Murphy advanced to third base, but the Spartans would avoid further damage to leave two Knights stranded on base.
As the Knights were kept off the bases over the next three innings of play, the visitors added insurance runs with three runs in the top of the sixth before adding two more runs in the top of the seventh to take an 8-1 lead.
Queens would get a run back in the bottom of the seventh before the Spartans were able to close out the game to earn an 8-2 victory over the Knights.
GAME TWO RECAP (QUEENS 4, STAC 0)
Queens turned to Fracchioni in the circle for the nightcap for her final start in Flushing.
After the Westbury native worked a clean first inning, the Knights looked to apply pressure in the home frame. As Zumpol notched a double to left field to open the inning, Baez would reach first base on a fielding error as Queens had two runners on and no outs. But the Spartans would retire the next three batters to keep the game scoreless.
The Spartans opened the second with a single before the Knights got the first out. But as a walk gave the Spartans two base runners, Fracchioni would induce a liner to Parascandola before the sophomore turned a double play to end the inning.
Queens opened the scoring in the home frame of the second as Parascandola singled up the middle before Verruso gave the Knights a 1-0 lead with a RBI double to left center.
Sophomore Call would reach first base safely as the Spartans looked for a fielder's choice out at third base but Verruso would beat the tag as Queens now runners on the corner. The Spartans would get the first out before Zumpol got hit by pitch to load the bases. Baez would double the Knights' advantage with a RBI single to left field as Queens took a 2-0 lead before the visitors retired the next two batters.
As Fracchioni continued to keep the Spartans' offense at bay, Queens would help their senior starter with more breathing room in the bottom of the fourth.
Call notched a double to left field to begin the inning before the Spartans got the first out. Zumpol would record her second hit of the game with a single to right field as Call advanced to third base. But as the Spartans committed back-to-back errors, it would be the Knights who would benefit as they took a 4-0 lead following the conclusion of the fourth inning of play.
In the circle, Fracchioni would continue to keep the shutout intact as she had limited the Spartans to three hits and three walks over the first six innings of play.
Leading 4-0 heading into the top of the seventh, the Spartans attempted a comeback rally notching back-to-back hits before a fielder's choice play from Fracchioni got the first out at third base.
The Knights would get the second out with another fielder's choice play as Parascandola got the sure out at third base as the Spartans were now down to their final out.
But the Spartans would load the bases with a single up the middle but a quick throw from Baez would keep the runner at bay at third base.
With the tying run up to bat, the senior righty fought back following a 2-0 count to level the count at 2-2. Down to their final strikeout, Fracchioni fired her final pitch in Flushing but as the Spartans sent the ball into right-center field, Baez would make the catch at the warning track for the final out as Queens earned a pivotal ECC win over the Spartans keeping their postseason hopes alive.
Next Pitch
Win or go Home situation as the Knights conclude the regular season in Buffalo on Friday (Apr. 26) morning with an ECC DH against the Saints of D'Youville University. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.
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