NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The 2025 East Coast Conference Baseball Championship got underway Thursday, May 8 as the #4 seed Queens College Baseball team matched up against defending champions and #1 seed Molloy University Lions at Sal Maglie Stadium.
The Knight tallied 13 hits led by All-ECC Second Team honoree second baseman
Robert Jacobsen (Temecula, Calif.) (4-5 AB, R) recording a four-game hit while the trio of rookie third baseman
Tommy Pasqua (Williston Park, N.Y.) (2-3 AB, 2RBI, R, 2BB), senior catcher
Thomas Napolitano Jr. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (2-5 AB, 2B, 2RBI, R), and junior shortstop
Nick Piazza (Queens, N.Y.) (1-4 AB, 2B, 2RBI) combined for five hits, six RBI and two runs scored.
But the Lions early runs would prove to be the difference before their defense held the Knights offense off to beat Queens to the final score of 14-6 in the second game of the tournament.
GAME RECAP (QUEENS 6, MOLLOY 14)
The Lions jumped ahead 7-0 in the bottom of the first as they sent 11 batters to the plate.
Looking to start the rally, senior first baseman
Matt Filip (Maspeth, N.Y.) (1-5 AB, 2B, R) began the top of the second with a double to left field. But as the Lions' defense retired the next two batters, Pasqua making his first career playoff start would drive home Filip with a RBI single to left field. Napolitano Jr. would extend the inning with a single to right center but Lions starter Ryan Hynes would strand both runners on base to end the top of the second.
Molloy added four insurance runs in the home half of the third as they took an 11-1 lead after three complete innings of play.
Once again the Knights put together a small rally as with one out, senior left fielder
Leo Alvarez (Oceanside, N.Y.) recorded a double down the right field before Jacobsen's single to right field advanced Alvarez into scoring position.
For the second at-bat in a row, Pasqua would record a RBI as he brought home Alvarez as Queens scored for the second time in three innings.
But as the Lions extended their lead to 13-2 in the top of the fourth, the Knights sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the sixth.
With one out, Queens loaded the bases with Alvarez reaching on base on a fielding error, followed by back-to-back singles from Jacobsen and Pasqua. With the bases loaded Napolitano Jr. laced a two-RBI double down the right field before a Piazza got the Knight within seven with a two-double down the right field as Queens cut their deficit down to single digits, 13-7.
However, the early damage would prove to be enough for the Lions as they were able to keep the Knights off the scoreboard for the final three innings of the game and advance into the winner's bracket.
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE
The Knights will now need to win two games on Friday, May 9 to advance to Championship Saturday while a loss will end their 2025 season. Looking to advance out of the loser's bracket, Queens opens Friday morning with a match-up against #2 seed College of Staten Island Dolphins. The first pitch is set for 10:00 a.m.
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