GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Continuing non-conference play, the Queens College baseball team made the local trek to Garden City to take on the Adelphi University Panthers at William J. Bonomo Memorial Field.
As a team, the Knights recorded 11 hits, led by multi-hit performances from rookie infielder
Justin Chong (Queens Village, N.Y.) and senior right fielder
Vincent Mallon (Massapequa, N.Y.). Chong went 2-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored, while Mallon finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Junior outfielder
Paul Fiene (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) drove in a team-high two runs.
Queens rallied late to provide rookie right-handed pitcher
Dylan Vikara (Westbury, N.Y.) with the momentum needed to close out the game. Vikara limited the Panthers to just one baserunner over the final two innings to earn his first career victory and secure a thrilling 9–8 win for the Knights.
With the victory, the Knights picked up their third win of the season.
Game Recap
The Knights were held hitless through four innings and trailed 2–0 entering the top of the fifth inning.
After the Panthers recorded the first out of the frame, sophomore second baseman
Tommy Pasqua (Williston Park, N.Y.) eached base on a fielding error. Chong followed with a double to left field to put two runners in scoring position, and Mallon delivered an RBI single to score Pasqua and put Queens on the board.
In the bottom of the fifth, walks proved costly for the Knights as the Panthers extended their lead to 5–1.
Looking to regain momentum, senior designated hitter
Connor Waiting (Seaford, N.Y.) wasted little time in the sixth inning, launching his third home run of the season to left field to cut the deficit to 5–2.
Junior outfielder
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.) followed with a double before senior shortstop
Nick Piazza (Queens, N.Y.) ripped an RBI triple to right-center field, bringing Queens within two runs. Piazza later scored on a wild pitch to make it 5–4 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Adelphi responded in the home half of the inning with three hits to extend its lead to 7–4.
The Knights continued to battle back in the seventh inning. After Chong was retired to open the frame, Mallon drilled a double to right field. Sophomore first baseman
Peter Bounougias (Plainview, N.Y.) followed with an RBI double to bring Queens within 7–5.
With two outs in the inning, junior outfielder
Christian Aguilar (New York, N.Y.) appeared to tie the game with a deep drive to left field. However, he was ruled out at home plate on the play, resulting in just one run scoring as Queens trailed 7–6 entering the bottom of the seventh.
Looking to keep the momentum on their side, Vikara worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning, allowing just one run as the Knights faced an 8–6 deficit entering the eighth.
Queens mounted its decisive rally in the top of the eighth inning with two outs. Junior catcher
Niko Sorice (Rocky Point, N.Y.) doubled to left field and moved to third on a wild pitch. Rookie center fielder
John Harkins (Babylon, N.Y.) drew a walk to put the tying run on base.
Chong delivered again with his second double of the afternoon, scoring Sorice and putting two runners in scoring position. Fiene, entering as a pinch runner, came through with his first hit of the season, two-run single up the middle that scored Harkins and Chong to give Queens its first lead of the game at 9–8.
With the lead in hand, Vikara retired the Panthers in order in the bottom of the eighth.
In the ninth inning, Vikara recorded the first two outs before a double to left field put the tying run in scoring position. The rookie remained composed and induced a ground ball to Piazza for the final out, sealing the comeback victory and his first collegiate win.
Next Pitch
The Knights travel to Uniondale, N.Y. on Friday, March 13 to open East Coast Conference play against the Molloy University Lions. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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