LANCASTER, S.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team was swept in a doubleheader, 4-3 and 6-3, by the Lancers of USC Lancaster on Saturday afternoon.
 
Queens (15-8) outhit USC Lancaster 18-11 in the contest, but the Lancers scored late in both contests to pick up a 3-0 edge in the season series with the Royals.
 
Game One: USC Lancaster 4, Queens 3 (Seven inn.)
 
In the first game of the day, Queens held a 3-2 lead over USC Lancaster through four innings of play. Both teams went scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings as the Royals were held without a run in the top of the seventh.
 
The Lancers put a runner on with two out in the bottom half of the seventh and used a walk-off home run to earn the home victory.
 
Freshman starter Drew Meschede (2-1) went the distance for Queens, allowing four runs (three earned) on just four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.
 
Another freshman, Anthony Orta, led the Royals on offense with a 2-for-4 performance, while sophomore Dominic Ford was 2-for-4 at the plate. Ford and Orta each had an RBI along with freshman Noah Jones who was 1-for-2 with a run driven in.
 
Game Two: USC Lancaster 6, Queens 3 (Seven inn.)
 
Momentum carried over into game two for the Lancers as they held a 3-2 lead through two innings of action. However, the Royals tied the game up in the third with a run.
 
In the fifth, USC Lancaster brought three runs across the plate to go ahead 6-3 and the pitching staff was able to hold the Royals scoreless over the final two innings to complete the sweep.
 
Junior Ryan Dudney was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a run score, while fellow junior CJ Hammonds was also 2-for-3 with a run scored. Freshman Wes Boling and junior Chase Hager each had an RBI in the contest.
 
Freshman Adam Hartle (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year after allowing six runs on seven hits with five strikeouts across 4.2 innings on the mound. Sophomore Lee Harrison pitched the final 1.1 innings out of the bullpen, striking out one batter without allowing a hit.
 
The Royals six-game road trip continues on Wednesday, March 28, when the team travels to Newton, N.C. for a doubleheader with Catawba Valley Community College beginning at 3 p.m.