UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Continuing their East Coast Conference series with a Sunday afternoon doubleheader, the Queens College baseball team made the trip to Mitchel Field for game two and three of the series against the Molloy University Lions in Uniondale.
In the Sunday opener, the Knights recorded 10 hits with the trio of sophomore right fielder
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (2-5 AB, 2B, 2R), sophomore designated hitter
Jordan Babbo (Merrick, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, RBI, BB) and rookie catcher
Jake Levesque (Pinellas Park, Fla.) (2-3 AB, 2RBI) combining for six hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
While senior center fielder
Nick O'Conner (Wantagh, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), rookie third baseman
Tommy Pasqua (Williston Park, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, R, BB), senior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-5 AB), and senior second baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) (1-4 AB, R) combined for four hits, and two runs scored. But the Knights would leave 10 base runners stranded as the Lions evened the series 1-1 with a 7-4 victory.
In game three Babbo
(2-3 AB, 2B, R) led the way with his second straight multi-hit game of the series, junior
Yoskar Guzman (Richmond Hill, N.Y.) (1-1 AB), rookie third baseman
Peter Bounougias (Plainview, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B, RBI, R), senior right fielder
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, 2B) and senior catcher
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (1-2 AB, HR, 2RBI, R, BB) as they combined for six hits, three RBI and three runs score. But a late rally would fall short as Queens fell to the final score of 8-4.
The Knights move to 2-3 in ECC play on the year with the rubber game set to be played on Monday in Flushing.
GAME ONE RECAP
As the Lions worked out of a lead-off hit by pitch in the top of the first, they would take a 1-0 lead using two walks and a single after the first inning of play.
The Knights would respond right away as Vilardi opened the frame with a single to center field before Jacobsen's bunt single had the Knights with two runners on and no out. As the Lions got the first out, rookie Levesque would tie the game 1-1 with a RBI single to right center as Vilardi scored from second base. But the Lions would get Levesque stealing second for the second out before they were able to get the third out with a grounder to second base.
Molloy wasted no time in retaking the lead as they used two walks and two singles to take a 3-1 lead after two complete innings of play.
Both sides were kept off the scoreboard in the third inning of play.
The Knights would get a run back in the top of the fourth as Vilardi opened the frame with a double to right field. But as the Lions got the first out of the inning, a RBI single up the middle from Babbo would get the Knights within one, 3-2. Levesque would notch his second hit of the afternoon to record his first career multi-hit of the year as the Knights threatened with two runners on and one out. But once again the Lions would avoid trouble as they were able to turn a double play to end the top of the fourth.
As the Knights worked out of a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth, the Knights would tie the game in the top of the fifth. With no out, Pasqua and Filip notched back-to-back singles with the rookie advancing to third. With one out, and runners in scoring position, a RBI grounder from graduate student left fielder
Penn Sealey (Raleigh, N.C.) would tie the game at 3-3.
With the Lions being retired in order for the first time on the day the Knights would score for the third straight inning. Queens would take advantage of two fielding errors to take a 4-3 but once again the Knights were unable to get the timely hit as the Lions were able to keep the damage at one run.
Molloy answered back in the bottom of the sixth using a double and two walks to their advantage to take a 5-4 lead after six complete innings of play.
However, it would be the closest the Knights would get as they left two runners on in the top of the seventh and two in the eighth before the Lions added two more runs to tie the series to the final score of 7-4.
GAME TWO RECAP
In the nightcap, the Lions wasted no time in taking a 6-0 lead after two complete innings of play.
With one out in the home frame of the third, Alvarez doubled to center field as the Knights looked to cut into their deficit. But the Lions would get out of the inning unscathed and leave Alvarez stranded at second.
Molloy would take an 8-0 lead after the top of the fifth but Queens would cut into their deficit in the home frame. As Bounougias doubled to right center and with one out, a two-run shot to left field from Napolitano Jr. would get Queens within six, 8-2 after five complete innings of play.
In the home frame of the sixth, Babbo recorded his second straight multi-hit game of the series with a double to right center before Queens loaded the bases as Jacobsen earned a walk and a pinch hit single from Guzman. A balk would bring in the third run of the game for the Knights before a RBI grounder to second base from Bounougias got the Knights within four, 8-4.
But it would be the closest the Knights would come within a comeback rally as the Lions completed the Sunday afternoon sweep with an 8-4 victory and take a 2-1 series lead.
NEXT PITCH
The Knights conclude the ECC series on Monday, Apr. 14 against the Lions at Hennekens Stadium. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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