WEST CHESTER, PA. – Continuing their six-game week against ranked foes, the Queens College baseball team traveled to West Chester, PA for a four-game series against nationally-ranked #7/#10 West Chester University Golden Rams at Serpico Stadium.
The Knights matched up against the Golden Rams for the first time since the 2009 season.
In game one senior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, HR 2RBI, R) recorded his third multi-hit game of the year, sophomore utility
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, R), senior second baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) (1-2 AB), rookie DH
Matteo Tufano (Franklin Square, N.Y.) (1-3 AB), and junior
Nick Piazza (Queens, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, 2B) combined for six hits.
The Knights wasted no time getting on board as Vilardi opened the top of the first inning with a single to center field before a sac bunt from Jacobsen advanced Vilardi into scoring position.
A Golden Rams fielding error would allow Vilardi to advance to third and graduate student
Penn Sealey (Raleigh, N.C.) to reach first base safely. With runners in scoring position, Filip would put Queens up 1-0 with a RBI single to left field scoring Vilardi from third.
The Knights would keep the Golden Rams offense at bay in the home frame as they left two runners stranded on base.
Piazza would tally a two-out double in the top of the second but the home side would keep Piazza at second base to end the frame.
For the second straight inning, the Knights kept the Golden Rams off the scoreboard before Filip blasted his first home run of the year in the top of the third inning with a solo blast out to left field as Queens extended their lead to 2-0.
West Chester would take advantage of three walks in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 2-2.
As the Knights were retired in order for the first time on the day, West Chester would take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
With two outs in the top of the fourth Jacobsen recorded a single through the right side but the Golden Rams would avoid further damage and keep their 3-2 lead intact.
But the Golden Rams offense would erupt would eight runs off of six hits, two hit by pitches, and a walk as they took a commanding lead of 11-2 after five complete innings of play.
The Golden Rams would add four runs in the sixth to defeat the Knights to the final score of 15-2 in game one.
In the nightcap, the Knights were limited to two hits off the bat of Sealey
(1-3 AB) and junior third baseman
Yoskar Guzman (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) (1-3 AB) but the top 10 team in the country West Chester would earn a 11-0 victory over the Knights.
NEXT PITCH
The Knights conclude their four-game series on Saturday, Mar. 15 against the Golden Rams with another doubleheader at Serpico Stadium. The first pitch is set for noon.
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