Flushing, N.Y. - Queens won their first ECC Softball Championship since 2001 on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 win over LIU Post.
Queens was led by the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Monique Roberge. The senior first baseman drove in a run and came out of the bullpen to earn the win in the circle.
Isabelle Yaroch got the start for the Knights and pitched three scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fourth. She walked the leadoff batter and hit the next batter and Roberge came in to relieve her. After she got the first batter she faced to pop out, Roberge walked the next batter to load the bases. She then reared back and struck out the next two batters to escape the trouble.
After that, Queens took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Roberge blasted a solo homerun over the wall in right-center. Roberge would get a big assist from her defense in the fifth.
After getting the first two outs in the fifth, Roberge walked the next two batters. The clean up hitter than laced a base hit to center. The runner from second tried to score but centerfielder, Stevianne Ognibene tossed a strike to catcher Kylie Spillett to get the runner at the plate and keep the game at 1-0.
Queens got an important insurance run in the sixth. Alicia Gonzalez reached on an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Roberge was intentionally walked, but Samantha Mattsson ripped an RBI double to left-center that scored Gonzalez and gave the Knights a 2-0 lead.
They held the Pioneers scoreless and won the title when Nicole Pirretti made a great running catch on the game's final play.
The team has to wait for the NCAA selection show, which airs on Monday, May 4, to find out who they play next.
Provided by the Queens Sports Information Department.
