CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team hosted Lander University on Sunday in the team's 2021 home opener at the Tuckaseegee Dream Fields, falling by a 6-4 score in the non-conference matchup.
 
Lander (3-0) took advantage of two early errors by the Royals defense and score on run in each of the first four innings to build a 4-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Queens redshirt-freshman Zach Weston led off with a single and later scored on an RBI single from redshirt-junior Mason Pickard to put the Royals on the board. Pickard scored two batters later on a called balk by Lander starter Carson Schlegel to cut the deficit in half.
 
Queens scored again in the fifth on an RBI double from redshirt-sophomore Carter Foster before the Bearcats got the run back in the top of the sixth to move back ahead by two runs. The Royals once again cut the deficit to a one run as Pickard hit a one-out single in the sixth, stole second and later scored on a fielding error by Lander's first baseman.
 
The Bearcats were able to scratch across one more run in the top of the eighth inning on a lead-off home run from outfielder Ward Betts as Queens was unable to put together a late rally.
 
Redshirt-junior Nick Charleson (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on 10 hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work. Redshirt-sophomore Tanner Jacobson worked the final two innings in relief, giving up just one run on four hits with four strikeouts of his own.
 
Pickard continued his hot start to the season, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI, while foster was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Both Foster and Pickard recorded a stolen base in the contest.
 
Queens will have a few days to prepare for their next opponent in No. 16 University of Mount Olive. The Royals and Trojans begin a home-and-home series next Friday afternoon in Mount Olive, N.C. at 3 p.m. before concluding the weekend with a Saturday afternoon tilt from The Tuck at 1 p.m.