By Anthony Bosco
After a 1-5 start to their season, the Queens College Lady Knights bounced back, going 3-1 this weekend. The team, coached by Brian DeMasters, swept a doubleheader from the No. 2 ranked team in the northeast, American International College, Saturday, and split a twin bill with Assumption Sunday.
Against AIC, Queens needed 10 innings before securing a 3-2 win in the opener in a game the Lady Knights almost threw away.
With Queens leading 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, starting pitcher Emily Lucas cleanly fielded a comeback to the mound, but threw wild to first base, allowing the tying run to score and force extra innings.
“It was one of those you can’t believe it happened plays,” DeMasters said of the play. “But it all ended well.”
That was thanks to Mary Okolski, whose two-out single in the bottom of the 10th brought home Cheryl Cosenzo from second base with the winning run. Cosenzo had singled and advanced to second on Stephanie Santoro’s ground out before racing home on Okolski’s hit.
Lauren Wells got the win in relief for the Lady Knights.
Queens almost let the second game slip away as well. The Lady Knights jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings, keyed by Kathy Blake’s bases-loaded double, which cleared the bases.
But with the lead 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh and one man out, Wells gave a up a grand slam that cut the Queens lead to just one run. Lucas came on in relief and allowed a hit before retiring the final two AIC batters and preserving the win.
Queens continued its roll the following day, traveling to take on Assumption and pounding their hosts 13-2 in the opener behind Luca, who scattered three hits. Blake led the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with six RBIs, including a grand slam in the fifth that ended the game. The team touched Assumption for 16 hits.
“I wish I could have saved some of [the hits] for the second game,” DeMasters said.
Queens’ three-game winning streak ended with a 5-4 loss in the nightcap, courtesy of some sloppy defensive play.
“We just did not play smart in the field,” the coach said.
Queens went up 2-0, but Lucas was touched for five runs early, giving way to Well, who finished the game. Lucas and Stephanie Santoro were both 2-for-4 with two RBIs, but it was not enough, as Assumption held on for the win.
Next up for Queens — after a double bill with Philadelphia Wednesday — is a home doubleheader Friday against Dowling.
Queens Baseball:
Queens 4, Molloy 2. Keith Haack fanned 11 through seven innings, allowing just one unearned run in the Knights’ league opener last week. Pete Cavouto was 2-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs and Vic Pantopoulos was 3-for-4 with two doubles.
Bridgeport 4-16, Queens 2-5. The Knights dropped a doubleheader to Bridgeport. Steve Moore picked up the loss while going the distance in the opener and striking out five. Cavouto had two of the Knights’ six hits in the loss.
Bridgeport scored seven times in the first two innings of the nightcap to earn the win. Mike Medea had three hits, while Cavouto and Carlos Cruz had two apiece.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
