NIAGARA FALL, N.Y. – Continuing their four-game East Coast Conference series in Niagara Falls against the Saints of D'Youville University the Queens College baseball team's offense would come alive in the nightcap of Saturday doubleheader to earn the afternoon split against the Saints.
In game one the Knights would be held to two hits with the junior duo of second baseman
Marc Cisco (Long Island City, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) and catcher
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, AZ.) (1-2 AB, BB) recording the lone two hits.
On the mound junior right
Caleb Cassie (Vancouver, B.C.) (L, 2-2 7.0 IP, 5H, 2R (none earned), BB, 8K) and junior righty
Joshuel Rodriguez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) (1.0 IP, 2K) combined to limit the Saints to seven hits but a costly fielding error would bring in the lone runs of the game as Queens were shutout for the second straight game falling to the final score of 2-0.
In the nightcap, the Knights offense would emerge for 16 hits nearly doubling their hits total from the first two games led by Cisco
(3-5 AB, RBI, 2R) and sophomore
Jorsixt Jimenez (Flushing, N.Y.) (3-4 AB, 2B, HR, RBI, BB, R) as the duo combined for six hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
The trio of sophomore left fielder
Joey Patane (Commack, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, BB, R), redshirt junior shortstop
Francis Segarra (Bronxville, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, R), and senior second baseman
Jaden Rivera (Queens Village, N.Y.) (2-2 AB, RBI, R) combined for six hits, RBI and three runs scored.
Lastly four Knights in junior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, RBI), freshman
Frank Romano (West Islip, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, BB, R), Napolitano Jr. (1-1 AB, RBI, R) and junior outfielder
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI) combined for four hits, three RBI, and two runs scored to pace the offense.
On the mound rookie right
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (4.2 IP, 7H, 6R, 4ER, 3BB, 2K), junior righty
Nick Kozerski (Hicksville, N.Y.) (W, 3-0 1.1 IP, 2H, 2R, 3K) and senior righty
Danny Gargano (Middle Island, N.Y.) (S, 4 1.0 IP, BB, K) combined to limit the Saints to nine hits, eight runs
(four earned), four walks to go with six strikeouts with Kozerski limiting the Saints to two runs on two hits before Gargano closed out the game to earn his fourth save of the year as Queens rallied to earn a Saturday DH split to the final score of 10-8.
With the win, the Knights improved to 16-12 overall, and 7-4 in ECC play.
GAME TWO RECAP (QUEENS 0, D'YOUVILLE 2)
It would be tough game two of the series for the Knights offense as they were shut out for the second game in a row. Despite being led hitless the Knights would continue to put base runners on as they earned a total of 10 walks to go with three hit by pitch but each time the Saints would find a way to avoid trouble.
The Saints scored the lone two runs of the game in the bottom of the second taking advantage of a fielding error before back-to-back hits put them up 2-0.
Cassie would continue to keep the Knights in the game as he pitched a career-best seven innings of work, but the Saints would keep Queens hitless until the top of the eighth inning.
Returning to the starting lineup for the first time in over a month, Cisco would break up the combined no-hitter in the top of the eighth, but the Saints would get a double play to end the threat.
As Rodriguez worked out of back-to-back singles to keep the scoreline at 2-0 following the conclusion of the eighth inning, the Knights would threaten in the top of the ninth.
Segarra would earn the ninth walk of the day but the Saints responded with a double play to end the threat. However, Napolitano Jr. would record the second hit of the game for Queens as he kept the inning game before a hit by pitch and the 10
th walk of the game saw Queens load the bases.
But the Saints would end the game getting the final out inducing the sixth batter of the inning to fly out to right field as the Knights fell to the score of 2-0 and dropped their second game in a row.
GAME THREE RECAP (QUEENS 10, D'YOUVILLE 8) (Seven Inns)
In the nightcap, Queens would get into the hit column early on as they recorded five hits through the first four innings of play but the runs column remained deadlocked at zero as six base runners were left stranded.
While the Saints took a 2-0 lead following the conclusion of the third inning of play.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the top of the fifth, Queens attempted a comeback rally with one out as Cisco and Jimenez notched back-to-back singles before stealing second and third base. With runners in scoring position, Filip would deliver the first run of the series for Queens with a RBI single as Queens got on the runs column in the 23
rd inning of the series. However, the Knights would leave two runners stranded as the Saints kept a one-run lead of 2-1 intact.
Just as Queens scored, the home side would score four runs in the bottom of the fourth and two runs in the sixth to take a commanding lead of 8-1 after six complete innings of play.
Down to their last three outs of the game and trailing by seven runs, 8-1 the Saints opened the top of the seventh with a strikeout.
But what would come next can only be described better if you saw it live.
A solo shot from Jimenez, his fifth of the year would kickstart a comeback rally for Queens. As the sophomore fifth home run of the year brought the Knights' deficit down to 8-2, a single to right center from pinch hitter Rivera and a single from Patane awakened the Knights' bats and dugout.
With runners on first and second, a single from Romano would load the bases but a throwing error would allow Rivera to score from third as Queens scored their second run of the inning.
A single to left field from Segarra would load the bases before a RBI single from Napolitano Jr. to left field got the Knights within four runs, 8-4.
With the bases still loaded and still only one out, Alvarez reached on a throwing error but the throw would provide enough depth as the Knights cleared the bases while the Oceanside native was able to advance to third base as Queens now had the tying run at third base and cut their deficit down to 8-7.
Junior third baseman
Elquin Rodriguez (Washington Heights, N.Y.) brought in to pinch hit would reach first base safely on a throwing error before advancing to second base while Alvarez scored from third to tie the game at 8-8.
Having batted successfully Cisco would ensure his second bat of the inning would be a big one as the junior delivered with his third hit of the game with a RBI single to right field scoring
Rodriguez from second as Queens took a 9-8 lead.
The Saints would finally get the second out of the inning before Rivera delivered with his second hit of the inning with a RBI single to center field as Cisco scored from second as Queens extended their lead to 10-8.
As the Saints walked the 14
th batter of the inning to come to the plate, they would finally get out of the inning by getting the 15
th batter of the inning to bat to pop up at shortstop.
Leading 10-8 Gargano would ensure the Knights would earn a DH split as the senior delivered with his fourth save of the year.
Gargano began the inning getting the first batter to foul out to Segarra before getting the second batter on a looking strikeout. But the Saints would keep the inning alive earning a five-pitch walk before Gargano induced the fourth batter of the inning into a grounder as Queens got the fielder's choice out second base to earn the DH split and pick up their seventh ECC victory of the year.
Next Pitch
The Knights will now look to secure a four-game ECC series split with the final game of the series on Sunday (Apr. 7) afternoon against the Saints. First pitch is set for noon.
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