GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (3-2) had their two-game winning streak snapped on Friday afternoon as the Royals fell to Francis Marion (4-0) by a final score of 8-5. The two squads faced off in a neutral site game at Lander University starting at 11:00 a.m.
 
The afternoon affair saw the Royals plate five runs on 10 hits while committing three errors. Francis Marion would score eight runs while spraying nine hits and committing four errors. Four Royals tallied a pair of hits on the afternoon, including Carter Foster, Alex Sexton, Nick Brassington, and Nick Melton. Riley Cheek and Carter Foster each knocked their second home run of the season. Nick Brassington maintained his phenomenal start to the season with a pair of hits, including a double and a pair of RBI's. The senior has posted at least two hits and an RBI in all five games this season. Nick Melton turned in another two-hit performance while driving in one and has reached base safely the last three games.
 
In four of Queens first five games, the Royals have been the first to strike. This afternoon Carter Foster gave Queens a quick 1-0 lead after launching a home run over the center field fence.
 
Royals starting pitcher Jeffery Maidhof would get the ball for the second time this season facing a tenacious Patriots offense. The young right hander carved up the Francis Marion lineup through the first two innings. In the third, the Patriots evened the score after a leadoff single from Llanos set way for a double down the left field line from Hegan scoring the Patriots first run. Maidhof would dial in and retire the next three batters in order stranding the runner at third.
 
A consistency from the Royals this season has been the ability to answer following the opponents scoring. In four of the Royals five games so far, they have responded with at least one run in the following half inning after the opponent plates a run. In the bottom of the third, Riley Cheek answered the Patriots run quickly launching a home run into left center to regain a 2-1 lead. Queens was not done yet as Nick Brassington sent a single through the left side scoring Alex Sexton to push the lead to 3-1.
 
Francis Marion would respond in the top of the fourth with two runs on two hits. Following a one-out walk, the Patriots hit a two-run home run to center field evening the score again. Maidhof would surrender a two-out double, but pick up a strikeout to end the inning.
 
In the fifth inning, both teams would get a run across as Francis Marion capitalized on a Royals error to bring their run around. Queens responded in the bottom half of the inning when Alex Sexton laced a one-out double down the left field line before Nick Brassington smacked a double into left center to score Sexton.
 
Francis Marion would answer the Royals in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs to regain a 6-4 lead. With two outs and a runner on first, the Patriots got a single before a double brought both runners into score. The Royals would get one back in the bottom half of the inning as Nick Alderfer led off with a double before Nick Melton knocked him in with a single.
 
The Patriots would seal the afternoon in the seventh scoring two insurance runs. Francis Marion was able to score a run in five straight innings as all eight runs came between the third and seventh innings. The Patriots would get both runs on no hits as they worked the count drawing four free passes. Blake Efird would shut the door in the eighth and ninth inning picking up three strikeouts while giving the Royals a chance for a comeback.
 
The Royals will return to the diamond tomorrow, Feb. 12 when they welcome Lander University for their home opener at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. and admission is free to the public. Queens will wrap up the weekend on Sunday when the Royals and Bearcats square off again at 1:30 p.m. from the Tuck.
 
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