FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning to East Coast Conference play, the Queens College softball team matched up against Molloy University Lions at Bob Klein Field for a Tuesday doubleheader.
In game one the Knights rallied trailing 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Lions would come back to tie the game in the home half of the seventh before earning a 3-2 victory in the bottom of the ninth inning of play. In game two of the doubleheader, the Knights would be limited to two hits as fielding errors hurt the visitors as Molloy completed the sweep to earn an 8-0 victory over Queens.
GAME ONE RECAP
Queens matched Molloy for eight hits with junior right fielder
Brianna Call (Fishkill, N.Y.) (2-4 AB) recording her second multi-hit game of the year. While six Knights in sophomore utility
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA.) (1-3 AB, R, BB), senior center fielder
Amanda Baez (Selden, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), sophomore third baseman
Kadie Cain (Hauppauge, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, RBI), senior first baseman
Caroline Pescatore (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, BB), rookie second baseman
Mia Pineiro (North Babylon, N.Y.) (1-4 AB) and senior
Riley O'Connor (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-1 AB) combined for six hits, one RBI and one run scored.
The Lions opened the scoring taking advantage of a fielding error to take a 1-0 before sophomore righty
Cheyanne Willoughby (Benalto, Alberta) was able to induce the sixth batter to come to the plate to foul out Cain to end the first inning of play.
The Knights would put two runners on base in the top of the third with one out as Pineiro and Call singled. However, the Lions would keep both runners stranded on base to end the scoring threat.
As Willoughby and her defense continue to keep the Lions scoreless over the next five innings of play including a three-pitch inning from Willoughby in the bottom of the fifth, the Knights would switch the momentum in the top of the sixth.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Queens would rally as junior shortstop
Allie Parascandola (East Quoque, N.Y.) got hit by pitch to give the Knights their first base runner since the top of the third inning. Campbel would advance Parascandola to second with a single to second base before the junior shortstop scored on a fielding error to tie the game at 1-1 as Baez reached first base and Campbell advanced to third base.
Next batter Cain would lace a RBI single back to the pitcher scoring Campbell as Queens took a 2-1 lead. Pescatore would earn a four-pitch walk as the Knights loaded the bases and looked to break the game open. But the Lions defense would hold firm as they left the bases loaded but the Knights had taken a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Willoughby opened the bottom of the sixth retiring the first batter before a single put the tying run at first base. But Willoughby and her defense would retire the next two batters to keep their 2-1 lead intact.
Looking to add more insurance runs O'Connor in a pinch hit situation would lace a single down the right field line before Call singled to right center as Queens had two runners on and no outs in the top of the seventh. But the Lions' defense would avoid trouble as they got a pop up for the first out before a double play ended the top of the seventh.
The Lions would tie the game 2-2 using a lead-off walk to their advantage before scoring on a sac fly out to left field.
For the third straight inning, the Knights would threaten as Campbell earned a walk before Baez singled through the left side. The Lions would get Baez out at second base on a fielder's choice as Campbell advanced to third base before Cain stole second base as Queens had two runners in scoring position.
A single from Pescatore would load the bases but once again it would be missed opportunities for the Knights as the Lions turned a double play to end the scoring threat in the top of the eighth.
But as the Knights were retired in order in the top of the ninth, the Lions would earn a 3-2 walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth to take game one of the doubleheader.
GAME TWO RECAP
In the nightcap Parascandola
(1-2 AB) and Baez
(1-1 AB, 3B, BB) would combine for two hits for the Knights. But four fielding errors would hurt the Knights as the Lions were able to earn the ECC doubleheader sweep in a run-rule victory to the final score of 8-0.
NEXT PITCH
The Knights return to QC Softball Field on Friday, Apr. 4 as they welcome Mercy University Mavericks to Flushing for an ECC doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
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