CALDWELL, N.J. – In their lone game of the week the Queens College baseball team
(4-6 overall) made the trip to Caldwell, N.J. for a non-conference game against the Cougars of Caldwell University at Kiwanis Oval.
In a run-filled day that saw both teams combine for 19 runs off of 18 hits, the Knights would go back and forth with the Cougars with four Knights combining for multi-hit games led by senior center fielder
Nick O'Conner (Wantagh, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2R), graduate student third baseman
Penn Sealey (Raleigh, N.C.) (2-3 AB, 2B, HR, 3RBI, 3R, BB), sophomore utility
Jordan Babbo (Merrick, N.Y.) (2-5 AB, 2B), and senior catcher
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (2-2 AB, 2B, 2BB) combining for eight hits, and three RBI.
The trio of senior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B, 2RBI, R, BB), senior second baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) (1-5 AB, 2B, RBI) and senior left fielder
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI) combined for three hits, and four RBI to pace the offense.
Queens got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning as with one out, O'Conner singled to first base on a bunt before Sealey laced a RBI double to left center field for a 1-0 lead. Filip would double the visitors' advantage with a RBI double down the left field line as Sealey scored from second for a 2-0 lead.
As the Cougars got the second out, a wild pitch would advance Filip to third before the Knights recorded their double of the inning as Jacobsen put Queens up 3-0 with a shot to left center.
It would be a rocky start for sophomore righty
Peter Nenadich III (Bayside, N.Y.) in his third start of the year as the Cougars used three hits to cut the Knights down to 3-2 after the completion of the first inning.
The Knights got a run back in the top of the second inning as Napolitano Jr. opened the frame with a double. But as the Cougars got two outs and looked to be leaving the senior catcher stranded on second, a fielding error would allow the senior to score as Queens extended their lead to 4-2 after the completion of the top of the second inning.
Caldwell would tie the game quickly as a hit by pitch put the first batter on base before a two-run shot helped the Cougars tie the game at 4-4. Nenadich III would retire the next three batters to take a 4-4 game into the third.
As the Knights were quiet in the third, Nenadich III would keep the Cougars at bay in the home frame of the third inning.
Caldwell would take their first lead of the game as lefty reliever
Robert Nunez (Manhattan, N.Y.) was tagged with three hits for two runs as the home side took a 6-4 lead after the conclusion of the fourth inning.
In the top of the inning, the Knights would ensure the Cougars' lead would be short-lived as O'Conner got hit by pitch to open the frame before Sealey laced his first long ball of the year to left center as Queens tied the game at 6-6.
Next batter Filip earned a walk before Babbo laced his second double of the year but the Cougars would keep the game tied at 6-6 as Filip was caught short at home. However, Babbo would be left stranded as the Cougars kept the game tied to end the top of the fifth.
Nunez would keep the game tied 6-6 until the home side used three hits in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-6 lead.
Trailing 7-6 entering the top of the seventh, O'Conner opened the inning with his single to right center before advancing to second on a wild pitch. As Sealey earned a walk, O'Conner would steal third base as Queens had runners on the corner with no outs.
Filip would tie the game 7-7 with a RBI sac fly out to center field as the Maspeth native recorded his team-tying third multi-RBI game of the year.
Babbo would keep the inning going with a single out to left field before the Cougars got the second out. With runners on first and second and two outs, a RBI single to left field from Alvarez would give Queens an 8-7 lead before the Cougars were able to avoid further damage.
However, the home side would take the first meeting of the year as they scored two runs in the seventh before adding on two more insurance runs in the eighth to defeat Queens to the final score of 11-8 Thursday afternoon.
NEXT PITCH
Continuing non-conference play the Knights return to action on Tuesday, Mar. 11 with a local trip to Garden City as they match up against Adelphi University Panthers. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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