PINEVILLE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team moved its season-opening winning streak to eight games in a row with 7-4 and 8-0 wins over Guilford Tech Community College on Saturday at Jack Hughes Memorial Park.
 
Game One: Queens 7, Guilford Tech 4
 
Guilford Tech put the Royals on alert in the top of the first inning, as two batters reached base via errors followed by a three-run home run to give the Titans an early 3-0 lead.
 
However, Queens (8-0) responded with a four-run bottom half of the inning thanks in large part to aggressive base running which forced Guildford Tech to commit costly throwing errors.
 
The Royals added insurance runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings of play, as the Titans concluded the scoring with a lone run in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Freshman Drew Meschede (2-0) got the win after allowing three runs (one earned) on just two hits with four walks and six strikeouts over five innings of work. Junior Jack Bergren allowed one hit with a strikeout and a walk in one inning of relief, while sophomore Bryant Baucom surrendered one run on two hits with two walks in his first appearance of the year.
 
Sophomore Dominic Ford led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance, tallying two doubles, one run, one RBI and two stolen bases. Junior Chase Hager was also 2-for-4 with two runs scored, one stolen base and an RBI.
 
Game Two: Queens 8, Guilford Tech 0
 
The Royals recorded their first shutout of the season in the second game of the day as freshman right-hander Adam Hartle (2-0) tossed a complete game three-hitter with 14 strikeouts.
 
Queens gave Hartle all the run support he would need with two runs in the second inning, but a six-run fifth inning added to the team's total to build a lead that was never in doubt.
 
Freshman Austin Campbell was a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI, one run scored, a walk and a stolen base. Fellow freshmen Aaron Douglas and Noah Jones, and junior CJ Hammonds each had an RBI in the contest, as Jones and Ford each collected two stolen bases.
 
The Royals hit the road for their next test, a four-game series with Pitt Community College next weekend on March 24-25 in Greeneville, N.C.  The Bulldogs were a 42-win team last season and claimed the NJCAA Division II Region X Championship.