WEST CHESTER, PA. – The Queens College baseball team wrapped up their four-game series against nationally-ranked #7/#10 West Chester University Golden Rams at Serpico Stadium with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.
In game one five Knights combined for five hits with senior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, BB), senior right fielder
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) (1-3 AB), junior third baseman
Yoskar Guzman (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) (1-2 AB, BB), rookie left fielder
Matthew Jackson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B, R), and rookie catcher
Jake Levesque (Pinellas Park, Fla.) (1-2 AB, BB), while senior second baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) drove in the lone run as the Knights fell to the score of 6-1.
In the final game of the series the Knights outhit the Golden Rams 9-4 as they were led by Filip
(4-4 AB, 2B, RBI), Jacobsen
(3-4 AB, RBI), sophomore utility
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, BB, R) and graduate student
Penn Sealey (Raleigh, N.C.) (1-4 AB, R) with Filip recording his first-ever career four-hit game but it would be a breaking loss as the Knights fell to the final score of 4-3 to conclude their six-game week against regionally ranked foes.
Game One Recap
Rookie righty
Severino Napolitano Jr. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) earned his first career start as he looked to keep the Golden Rams at bay. But the home side began the game taking a 1-0 lead using two hits and a walk to their advantage before scoring on a second fielder's choice play.
With one out in the top of the first Alvarez and Guzman tallied back-to-back singles as Queens looked to tie the game. However, the Golden Rams would keep the Knights at bay.
The home side would extend their lead in the bottom of the third using four hits to take a 5-1 lead.
Queens would get on board in the top of the fifth as Jackson tallied his first career with a double to left field before back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Knights.
A sac fly from Jacobsen out to left field would help Queens get on board, 5-1, but once again the Golden Rams would avoid further trouble as they were to induce a double play to end the top of the fifth.
The visitors would get the run back in the home frame of the sixth before retiring the Knights in order in the seventh to defeat Queens to the final score of 6-1.
Game Two Recap
It would be a scoreless game until the top of the third as Queens got their offense going. With one out, Vilardi earned a walk before the Golden Rams got the second out. However, with two outs, and a runner on first, Sealey would extend the inning with a single up the middle as Vilardi advanced to second.
Runners on first and second, Filip extended his career day with a RBI single through the right side as Vilardi scored to put Queens up 1-0.
Next batter Jacobsen doubled the visitors' advantage with a RBI single to left field as Sealey scored putting Queens up 2-0 after the top of the third inning.
Vilardi who earned the game four start would retire the Golden Rams in order before the Knights extended their lead in the top of the fourth.
With a runner at second and two outs, Vilardi would single up the Vilardi as junior
Nick Piazza (Queens, N.Y.) advanced to third but a throwing error would allow Piazza to score as Queens took a 3-0 lead.
As Vilardi faced the minimum over the next three innings of play to keep a 3-0 lead intact, the Knights offense would leave five runners stranded as they were unable to extend their advantage.
Leading 3-0 entering the bottom of the seventh and three outs away from a victory over a Top 10 team in the country, it would be a heartbreaking loss as West Chester rallied with one out to earn a 4-3 victory over Queens.
NEXT PITCH
The road trip continues with another trip back to PA on Tuesday, Mar. 18 as the Knights match up against another Top 15 team in the country as they face East Stroudsburg University Warriors in East Stroudsburg, PA. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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