YAPHANK, N.Y. – Opening a four-game non-conference series in Yaphank, the Queens College baseball team matched up against regionally-ranked #7 Franklin Pierce University Ravens at Lasorda Legacy Park Friday afternoon.
In the series opener, the Knights outhit the Ravens 9-6 with the senior duo of second baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) (2-3 AB, RBI) and first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2B, RBI) recording multi-hit games as they combined for four hits, one double and two RBI.
While senior center fielder
Nick O'Conner (Wantagh, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, R), senior left fielder
Michael Prisco (Selden, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, HR, 3RBI, 2R), sophomore right fielder
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, RBI, R), senior catcher
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (1-2 AB, 2B, BB) and junior shortstop
Nick Piazza (Queens, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R) combined for five hits, four RBI, and five runs scored with Vilardi delivering the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-5 victory.
On the mound the senior righty duo of
Caleb Cassie (Vancouver, British Columbia) (ND, 5.0 IP, 2H, 2ER, BB, 9K) and
Nick Kozerski (Hicksville, N.Y.) (W, 1-0, 2.0 IP, 4H, 3ER, 4K) would combine to hold the Ravens at bay with Kozerski picking up his first victory of the year.
In game two, the Knights would be outhit 8-6 with Vilardi
(2-3 AB) recording a multi-hit game, while Jacobsen
(1-3 AB), Filip
(1-3 AB, 2B), freshman catcher
Jake Levesque (Pinellas Park, Fla.) (1-3 AB, 2B) and Piazza
(1-2 AB) combined for six hits in the nightcap.
On the mound sophomore righty
Peter Nenadich III (Bayside, N.Y.) (L, 0-2, 2.2 IP, 5H, 5ER, 4BB, 6K) and senior lefty
Nate Rodriguez (Hamilton, N.J.) (4.1 IP, 3ER, 4BB, 6K) would be the two pitchers used in game two but Nenadich III would be the tagged the loss as the Ravens earned an 8-0 to earn the Friday DH split.
With Friday's result, the Knights move to 3-4 overall on the young season. With the game one victory, the Knights earned their second victory over the Ravens in program history as they ended a five-game losing streak earning their first victory since February 24, 2017, when they earned a 5-3 victory in Myrtle Beach.
In the top of the first inning, Cassie would run into trouble as with one out back-to-back hit by pitches would see the Ravens put two runners on base as they looked for the early lead. But the righty would quickly settle down as he sent down the next two batters on back-to-back looking strikeouts to keep the runners stranded.
Matching up against the Ravens ace, the Knights' first two batters would be sent down on swinging strikeouts before Prisco reached first base on a third base fielding error to extend the inning. Next batter Vilardi would get hit by a pitch as the Knights now had two runners on base as they looked for the early lead.
Queens would take a 1-0 lead as Jacobsen laced a RBI single to center field scoring Prisco from second base before Filip doubled the home side lead with a RBI single through the right side as Vilardi scored.
Leading from the front, Cassie would work back-to-back cleaning innings including striking out the side in the top of the third on 10 pitches.
The Ravens would use the long ball to tie the game in the top of the fourth before Cassie was able to retire the next three batters in a row including notching his seventh punchout of the day.
The pitcher's duel would continue as both pitchers continued to keep each other's offense at bay.
In the top of the fifth, Cassie would retire the first two batters on back-to-back strikeouts making it three in a row before a walk extended the inning. But Cassie would induce the fourth batter into a pop-up with graduate student third baseman
Penn Sealey (Raleigh, N.C.) making the catch and keeping the game tied at 2-2.
As the Ravens opened the bottom of the fifth retiring the first batter, back-to-back singles from Piazza and O'Conner would put the Knights in prime position to retake the lead.
Staring a 1-1 count Sealey would line out to the center fielder as the Ravens looked to be getting out of trouble. Next batter Prisco on a 1-1 count would finally connect as he laced his first long ball of the year with a three-run blast to center field as Queens retook the lead for a 5-2 advantage after the completion of the fifth inning.
But the Ravens would get two runs back with their third home run of the day but reliver Kozerski would keep the damage at two runs as Queens went into the home half of the sixth with a 5-4 lead.
Looking to add insurance runs, Jacobsen opened the frame with a single through the right side before next batter Filip laced a ground-rule double down the left field line as the Knights had runners in scoring position.
However, the Ravens would prevent any further runs as they were able to keep the runners stranded to end the sixth inning of play.
Down to their final three outs, the Ravens would tie the game 5-5 using two extra bases hits putting the Knights in position for their first walk-off victory of the year.
With the Knights sending their 2-3-4 hitters to open the frame, Sealey battled for a six-pitch walk before advancing to second base on a wild pitch.
With the winning run at second base, Prisco would fly out to right field giving the Ravens the first out but with enough room to advance Sealey would advance to third base.
With one out and the winning run just 90 feet away, Vilardi staring at a 0-1 count would lace the game-winning RBI single to center field scoring Sealey as Queens earned a thrilling 6-5 victory over their regionally-ranked non-conference foe.
In the nightcap, the Knights matched up against East Regional Pitcher of the Week Kyle Salvati and it would be a tough climb for the home side.
As the visitors used the long ball to do the damage against the Knights pitching staff, Queens would be limited to six hits.
The Ravens took an early 1-0 lead but Nenadich III was able to keep the damage at one run through the first two inning of play.
In the bottom of the second with two outs, Filip laced a double to left field but the visitors would keep the Maspeth native stranded on second to end the inning.
Franklin Pierce would extend their advantage to 5-0 after the completion of the top of the third.
Over the next three innings of play the Knights would put base runners on but each time the visitors would avoid damage as Franklin Pierce earned the Friday doubleheader split winning game two to the final score of 8-0 taking a 1-1 series tie into Saturday's doubleheader.
NEXT PITCH
The Knights conclude the series against the Ravens at Lasorda Legacy Park with a Saturday (Mar. 1) afternoon doubleheader. First pitch is set for noon.
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