KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Redshirt-junior
Chase Hager tripled and scored on a throwing error to provide the go-ahead run for the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team in an 8-7 win over Southeast Region foe UNC Pembroke on Wednesday afternoon from Intimidators Stadium.
Pembroke (8-10) took advantage of four Queens fielding errors in the second inning to score six runs on just two hits and build an early 6-0 lead. The Royals (5-11) responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third, loading the bases before freshman
Nick Melton used a two-out double to drive in all three runners and cut the deficit in half.
Junior right-hander
Lee Harrison shut down the Braves on offense after entering the game in the third inning out of the bullpen. Harrison tossed three full innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out four batters to keep Queens within striking distance.
Hager scored on a wild pitch and Melton recorded another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to bring Queens within one before Pembroke scored a run in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 7-5. The Royals responded once again with two runs in the seventh, scoring on an RBI single from redshirt-sophomore
Dominic Ford and tying the game at 7-all on a sacrifice fly from redshirt-freshman
Greyson Haller.
Freshman
Evan Dix pitched two innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout before giving way to redshirt junior
Kollin Schrenk in the eighth inning. Schrenk (1-) picked up the win with a perfect inning of relief as Hager's run in the eighth gave Queens a one-run lead. Redshirt junior
Max Fries slammed the door with a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save.
Hager was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple, a stolen base, and was hit by a pitch, reaching base four times in the game and scoring four runs. Ford was 2-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Melton was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and four RBI.
Queens begins a three-game South Atlantic Conference series this weekend against local rival Lenoir-Rhyne University. The first game is scheduled to being at 7:05 p.m. from BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon in Kannapolis.
