FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning to East Coast Conference play Friday afternoon, the Queens College baseball team welcomed the Mavericks of Mercy University to Hennekens Stadium for game one of the series opener.
The Knights were limited to seven hits led by senior center fielder
Nick O'Conner (Wantagh, N.Y.) (2-4 AB, 2B), multi-hit game, while graduate student
Penn Sealey (Raleigh, N.C.) (1-5 AB),
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) (1-4 AB), sophomore right fielder
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), rookie third baseman
Peter Bounougias (Plainview, N.Y.) (1-4 AB), and rookie shortstop
Tommy Pasqua (Williston Park, N.Y.) (1-3 AB, BB) knocked in a single each.
But it would be missed opportunities for the Knights as they left 12 base runners stranded to drop game one of the series to the final score of 3-1.
GAME RECAP (QUEENS 1, MERCY 3)
It would be a pitcher's duel as both starters worked out of jams in the first half of the game before runs were scored in the latter stage of each starter's outing.
The Knights were led by senior righty
Nick Kozerski (Hicksville, N.Y.) who would keep the Mavericks offense at bay through the first six innings of play as he worked out of base runners in the first five innings of play before retiring the Mavericks in order in the top of the sixth.
Kozerski would erase base runners through two successful pick-off attempts and induce two double plays to keep the Mavericks off the board.
On the opposite end, the Knights would put base runners in eight different innings including runners in scoring position in all eight innings but each time the Mavericks' defense would keep pace with the Knights.
After Kozerski worked a clean inning in the top of the sixth to retire the Mavericks in order for the first time, the Knights would respond in the home half of the sixth.
As senior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) earned a walk to open the inning before the Mavericks got the first out, rookie Bounougias would extend the inning with a single to left field to advance Filip to second base. But as the visitors got the second out of the inning before they induced a fly ball out to the right fielder and looked to be getting out of the inning, however, a drop fly ball would allow the Knights to score as Filip scored from second to take a 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks would avoid further damage in the home half of the sixth.
But the Knights lead would be short-lived as the visitors tacked on five hits to take a 3-1 lead after the completion of the top of the seventh.
Over the final three innings of play the Knights offense would be limited to three hits and fell short of a comeback attempt to drop game one of the series to the final score of 3-1.
NEXT PITCH
The Knights head to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. for a Saturday, Apr. 26 afternoon doubleheader to continue for four-game series against the Mavericks. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), Twitter (@QCKnights), Queens College Baseball (@QC_Baseball) and Instagram (qcknightsny), QC Baseball (qcbaseball)
