STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Queens College baseball team headed to Staten Island for an East Coast Conference doubleheader against the Dolphins of College of Staten Island at the CSI Baseball Complex Saturday afternoon.
In game one the Knights trailed by five, 11-6 heading into the top of the ninth before the offense put together four runs but the Dolphins would keep the tying run stranded at first base to earn an 11-10 victory and tie the series at 1-1.
In the nightcap, the Knights trailed by 7-0 after two complete innings of play before they were able to cut their deficit down to one, 7-6 but the Dolphins would add an insurance run in the home frame of the sixth before holding the offense at bay to defeat Queens to the final score of 8-6 and take a 2-1 series heading into the final game to be played in Flushing.
GAME ONE RECAP
In game one the offense recorded 11 hits as five Knights combined for nine RBI with senior center fielder
Nick O'Conner (Wantagh, N.Y.) (2-6 AB, RBI, R) the lone Knight to record a multi-hit game, while the trio of senior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-5 AB, 2B, 3RBI), senior catcher
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (1-1 AB, 2B, 2RBI, R) and junior shortstop
Nick Piazza (Queens, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, 2B, 2RBI, R) combined for three doubles, seven RBI and two runs scored.
The Knights fell behind 6-0 after two complete innings of play before Queens got on board with as junior third baseman
Yoskar Guzman (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, RBI) scored graduate student
Penn Sealey (Raleigh, N.C.) (1-4 AB, 2B, 2R) on a RBI sac fly out to center field.
Queens would get within two, 6-4 behind a bases-clearing three-RBI double from Filip to left center in the top of the fifth. But the Dolphins would answer back scoring four runs in the home frame of the fifth to extend their advantage to 10-4.
The Knights would get two runs back as a RBI double to right center from Pizza scored catcher rookie
Jake Levesque (Pinellas Park, Fla.) (1-2 AB, R, BB) before the junior shortstop took advantage of a fielding error to get Queens within four, 10-6.
A solo shot would see the Dolphins take an 11-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Down to their final three outs and trailing 11-6, Queens would attempt to put together a rally as with one out, Sealey reached on base on a hit by pitch before rookie
Tommy Pasqua (Williston Park, N.Y.) brought in to pinch hit would earn a walk before pinch hitter rookie
Matteo Tufano (Franklin Square, N.Y.) singled to right field as Queens loaded the bases.
With one out, Napolitano Jr. would bring Queens within three with a two-RBI double to right center before Piazza delivered with a RBI sac fly out to right field. A RBI single from O'Conner would score Napolitano Jr. as the Knights were able to cut their deficit down to one, 11-10. With the tying run at first base, the Dolphins would hold firm as they were able to get the final out to earn an 11-10 victory.
GAME TWO RECAP
In the nightcap the Knights offense recorded 11 hits with three players recording multi-hit games led by Filip
(3-4 AB, HR, RBI, 2R), senior outfielder
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) (2-2 AB, R), and Pasqua
(2-4 AB, 2B, R) combining for seven hits, one RBI, and four runs scored. While Sealey
(1-4 AB, 2RBI) was the lone Knight to record a multi-RBI game.
For the second straight game, Queens fell behind as they found themselves trailing 7-0 after two complete innings of play.
Queens would start to put together a rally beginning in the top of the third as Napolitano Jr.
(1-2 AB, 2B, RBI, R) began the frame with a double down the left field before Sealey got Queens on the board with a RBI grounder to second base.
In the top of the fourth Filip would belt his second home run of the year with a solo shot to left center as Queens got within five, 7-2.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, senior second baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) (1-4 AB, 2B, R) extended the inning with a double to left field before a RBI single from Sealey got the Knights within four, 7-3.
Looking to continue to shift the momentum, Filip began the top of the sixth with a single to left field before Alvarez singled through the right side as Queens had two runners on and no outs.
As rookie Pasqua laced a single center field, a fielding error from the center fielder would allow Filip and Alvarez to score while Pasqua advanced to third base as the Knights were now two runs away from tying the game.
A RBI sac fly from Napolitano Jr. would the Knights within one, 7-6 but the Dolphins would get the final two outs of the frame and leave two Knights stranded on base.
CSI would add an insurance run in the home frame of the sixth before they held the Queens' offense at bay in the top of the seventh to defeat Queens to the final score of 8-6 and take a 2-1 series lead.
NEXT PITCH
The Knights will look to open their ECC play on a 2-2 note on Sunday, Mar. 30 as they welcome the Dolphins for the final and fourth game of the series at Hennekens Stadium. The first pitch is set for noon.
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