Wells, a sophomore pitcher, went the distance in the first game, an 8-2 Queens win, allowing just three hits…
By Anthony Bosco
Lauren Wells saved the day — and perhaps the season — Monday, leading the Queens College Lady Knights to a doubleheader sweep of New York Tech.
Wells, a sophomore pitcher, went the distance in the first game, an 8-2 Queens win, allowing just three hits and striking out five while earning her ninth win of the season against just three losses. But it was her brief appearance in the nightcap that made the difference.
“She’s taken the ace role,” said Queens head coach Brian DeMasters of his ace, who threw a no-hitter last week up at Bryant. “She’s just been pitching really.”
With Queens leading 5-0 heading into the seventh, starter Emily Lucas seemed to be cruising, but gave up four walks and a hit to let Tech pull within two, 5-3, with one out. DeMasters called on Wells to quiet the threat and that’s just what she did.
Wells got the next two batters to harmlessly pop out to end the game and ensure a series sweep.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” DeMasters said. “She saved the day.”
And quite possibly the season. DeMasters said his team “may have shot ourselves in the foot” last week, losing three of four, two to Adelphi and one to Bryant, which certainly put a dent in the team’s hopes of an NCAA Tournament bid. The two wins Monday, coupled with the team’s thrashing of Mercy earlier in the week, 28-0 and 18-0, kept Queens solidly in third place in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference behind Dowling and Adelphi and sixth in the Northeast.
The top four teams from the Northeast get automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.
Offensively against Tech Monday, Jessica Blake was the star in the opener, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Cheryl Cosenzo was 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. In the second game, Kathy Blake and Cosenzo both hit two-run home runs, before Wells was called on to close out the game in the seventh.
Queens 28-18, Mercy 0-0. Cosenzo had a career day against the struggling Mercy College team, going a combined 9-for-10 with 12 RBIs in two games called after five innings.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
