FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Closing out their four-game series Sunday afternoon at Diamond Nation against regionally-ranked No. 7 Goldey-Beacom College, the Queens College baseball team earned a doubleheader split, highlighted by a complete-game performance from senior right-hander
Christopher Naronis (Floral Park, N.Y.) to secure their second victory of the season.
In game three, the Knights rallied to take a late lead before the Lightning responded with eight unanswered runs to claim a 14-7 victory.
Queens bounced back in the series finale as Naronis delivered a dominant outing, striking out a career-best seven batters in a complete-game effort to lead the Knights to a 7-3 win.
Game Three Recap
Queens finished with 11 hits, led by senior designated hitter
Connor Waiting (Seaford, N.Y.), junior left fielder
Michael Vilardi (Massapequa, N.Y.), and rookie infielder
Justin Chong (Queens Village, N.Y.), who combined for six hits, two RBI, and three runs scored.
Senior shortstop
Nick Piazza (Queens, N.Y.) and sophomore first baseman
Peter Bounougias (Plainview, N.Y.) added two hits, three RBI, and two runs scored.
The Knights fell behind early as Goldey-Beacom plated four runs in the first inning. Queens responded with four runs across the third and fourth innings to cut the deficit.
In the top of the sixth, a two-RBI double from Piazza followed by an RBI single from Chong gave Queens its first lead of the game at 7-6.
The Lightning answered immediately, scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth before adding three more in the seventh to take control of the contest. Despite recording 11 hits, the Knights stranded 19 runners on base in the 14-7 defeat.
Game Four Recap
Looking to salvage the split, Queens again outhit Goldey-Beacom behind a strong offensive showing led by Chong, who recorded his second multi-hit performance of the day with three hits, including a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
Rookie center fielder
John Harkins (Babylon, N.Y.) added two hits, including a home run, while driving in two runs and scoring once. Senior designated hitter
Vincent Mallon (Massapequa, N.Y.), junior first baseman
Jordan Babbo (Merrick, N.Y.), and sophomore second baseman
Tommy Pasqua (Williston Park, N.Y.) combined for three hits, two RBI, and three runs scored.
On the mound, Naronis delivered a complete-game victory, allowing six hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out a career-high seven to earn his first win of the season.
After two scoreless innings, Queens broke through in the third inning as Chong delivered an RBI double to left-center before Mallon launched his first home run of the season to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
Naronis retired eight straight batters during the middle innings and worked out of trouble in the third after a single and walk, recording a strikeout to leave both runners stranded.
Goldey-Beacom eventually tied the game in the sixth inning at 3-3, but Queens responded in the top of the seventh.
Junior left fielder
Christian Aguilar (New York, N.Y.) reached on an error to begin the inning before Bounougias drew a walk. Pasqua followed with a bunt single to load the bases.
Harkins delivered the decisive hit, lining a two-RBI single up the middle to give Queens a 6-3 lead. He later scored on a passed ball to extend the advantage to 7-3.
With the lead in hand, Naronis returned to the mound and closed out the game in dominant fashion, retiring the Lightning in order with back-to-back strikeouts to secure the complete-game victory.
Next Pitch
The Knights continue non-conference play Wednesday, March 11, traveling to Garden City to face Adelphi University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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