ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference Softball Tournament got underway Thursday afternoon as the #3 seed Queens College softball team matched up against defending champions and #2 seed in the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College at Bob Klein Field in Rockville Centre.
The Knights offense out-hit the Spartans 9-8 as they were led by two multi-hit performances from senior first basemen
Jenny Murphy (East Islip, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, R) and senior
Arianna Fracchioni (Westbury, N.Y) (2-4 AB, RBI) as the duo combined for four hits, one RBI and a run scored.
While junior third baseman
Emma Zumpol (Patchogue, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, 2B), junior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y) (1-3 AB, HR, RBI, 2R), freshman utility
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA) (1-4 AB), senior second baseman
Alyssa Wilkinson (Bayside, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, RBI) and junior right-fielder
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) combined for five hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
While in the circle Campbell
(L, 11-10 4.2 IP, 7H, 4ER, 4K) and Fracchioni
(1.1 IP, H, K) would combine to limit the Spartans to eight hits, four earned runs and five strikeouts but a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth would help the Spartans defeat the Knights to the final score of 4-3.
With the loss, the Knights move to 17-26 overall on the year and into the loser's bracket and will now need to win two games on Friday to advance to Saturday's Championship game.
GAME RECAP (QUEENS 3, STAC 4)
The Knights started the game on a strong note as with one out in the top of the first inning, Baez wasted no time looking at any pitches as the Selden native notched her fifth home run of the year to left field to give Queens an early lead of 1-0.
The Knights would keep the line moving as Murphy singled to center field before the Spartans were able to get the second out. But back-to-back singles from Fracchioni and Wilkinson would load the bases, however, the Spartans would avoid further damage as they were able to get the third out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, the Spartans opened the inning with a single to left field but Campbell and the defense would keep the runner stranded on base to end the inning.
As the Spartans worked out of a two-out double from Zumpol to left field in the top of the second, the Spartans threatened in the bottom of the second as they put runners on first and second. But Queens would leave both stranded as Campbell recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
Campbell would work two straight clean innings of play as the Knights' offense searched for more runs to give their rookie breathing room.
Leading by 1-0, the Knights would add more two runs in the top of the fifth as they sent seven batters to the plate. With one out, Baez would get hit by pitch before back-to-back singles from Murphy and Campbell loaded the bases. With only one out, senior Fracchioni would extend the Knights' advantage with a RBI single to center field to score Baez before senior Wilkinson put the Knights up 3-0 with a sac fly out to right field as Murphy scored.
Having shut out the Spartans through the first four innings of play, the defending champions would load the bases on a single, double, and a fielder's choice play in the bottom of the fifth inning. As Campbell got the first out on her fourth strikeout of the day, a sac fly out to center field would allow the Spartans to cut the lead down to 3-1 but the Knights would now be one out away from keeping their two-run lead intact.
But ECC Co-Player of the Year Eliana Raposo would tie the game with a two-RBI single to center field, however, a throwing error would allow her to advance to third base before the Spartans claimed a 4-3 lead with a RBI double to right center.
Trailing for the first time on the day, the Knights looked to respond in the top of the sixth as with one out, Pescatore singled to second base to keep the inning alive.
But the Spartans would get the next two outs before the Knights were retired in order in the top of the seventh to fall short to the final score of 4-3 Thursday afternoon.
Next Pitch
Survive and Advance mode now for the Knights as they move into the Loser's Bracket. Queens will need to win two games on Friday (May. 3) afternoon at Bob Klein Field to advance to the ECC Championship Game. They will match up against #4 seed Mercy University Mavericks at 1:30 p.m. to begin the day.
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