FLUSHING, N.Y. – Concluding their homestand Tuesday afternoon, the Queens College softball team welcomed the Molloy University Lions to the QC Softball Field for an East Coast Conference doubleheader.
The Knights dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision in game one before rallying multiple times in the nightcap. Junior
Olivia Wanser (Westbury, N.Y.) delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to secure a thrilling 13-12 victory and an ECC split.
With the split, Queens improves to 2-6 in conference play.
Game One Recap – Queens 1, Molloy 2
Queens totaled six hits in the opener, highlighted by a multi-hit performance from junior
Kadie Cain (Hauppauge, N.Y.), who also drove in the Knights' lone run. Senior
Allie Parascandola (East Quogue, N.Y.), rookie
Kayla Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.), sophomore
Brigid Hood (Wantagh, N.Y.) and junior
Sienna Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) each contributed hits.
Rookie righty
Nellie Donahue (Levittown, N.Y.) was sharp early, retiring the Lions in order through the first two innings.
Despite generating opportunities, Queens stranded five runners over the opening innings. Molloy broke through in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead.
The Knights answered in the fourth as junior
Sienna Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, Cain delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
Molloy regained the lead in the fifth, and Queens threatened late. In the seventh, Parascandola and Cain opened with back-to-back singles before a
Carla Chiaramonte (Middle Village, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position. Wanser drew her third walk of the game to load the bases, but the Lions turned a game-ending double play to escape with the 2-1 win.
Game Two – Queens 13, Molloy 12
The Knights' offense erupted in the nightcap, recording a season-high 15 hits in a back-and-forth thriller.
Rookie
Kayla Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) led the way with her first career four-hit game, adding a double and two RBI. Cain posted three hits with a double, three runs scored, and an RBI, while Parascandola added a multi-hit effort with two runs scored. Wanser finished with two hits, including her seventh home run of the season, five RBI, two runs scored, and drew five walks.
Hood delivered a career day, launching her first career grand slam as part of a four-RBI performance. Junior
Caylea Campbell (Murrieta, CA.), sophomore
Mia Pineiro (North Babylon, N.Y.), and junior
Sienna Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) combined to provide additional offensive support.
The Lions struck first with a four-run opening inning, but Queens responded immediately.
Parascandola and Campbell led off with back-to-back singles before Cain delivered an RBI single to left to get the Knights on the board. Moments later, Wanser, ahead in a 2-0 count, blasted her seventh home run of the season to right-center, evening the score at 4-4.
Molloy regained a 5-4 lead in the second and threatened to break the game open in the third, but Campbell worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the deficit at one.
Queens answered in the bottom of the third. With one out, the Knights loaded the bases on a Wanser walk, a
Kayla Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) single, and a walk to Chiaramonte. With bases loaded, Hood capitalized, crushing her first career grand slam to center field to give Queens an 8-5 advantage.
The Lions added a run in the fourth, but Campbell again limited the damage to maintain an 8-6 lead.
Queens extended its advantage in the bottom half of the inning, as Campbell drew a walk before senior
Sam Voskinarian (East Northport, N.Y.) entered as a pinch runner. Cain doubled to right field to put runners in scoring position, and Wanser followed with an RBI sacrifice fly. The rookie Denino then added an RBI single to push the lead to 10-6.
Molloy responded with a four-run fifth inning to tie the game at 10-10 and took a 12-10 lead in the sixth following a Queens error.
The Knights refused to back down. In the bottom of the sixth, Parascandola led off with a single, and after the first out, Cain singled and Wanser drew her fifth walk of the game to load the bases.
Kayla Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) continued her standout performance with an RBI single up the middle, and Chiaramonte followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 12-12.
In the seventh, Molloy opened with a double, prompting Queens to turn to Donahue out of the bullpen. The rookie delivered, retiring three straight batters to keep the game tied.
In the bottom half, Queens once again loaded the bases behind
Sienna Denino (North Babylon, N.Y.) single and Parascandola hit by a pitch before Cain drew a four-pitch walk. With two outs and the winning run on third, Wanser delivered in the clutch, lining a 2-0 pitch up the middle for a walk-off RBI single to secure a thrilling 13-12 victory and the ECC split.
Next Pitch
Queens travels to Buffalo on Friday, April 10, for an ECC matchup against defending champion D'Youville University Saints. First pitch is scheduled 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),
X (@QCKnights), Queens College Softball (@qcsoftball), and Instagram (qcknightsny), qcsoftball (@qcsoftball)
