CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (8-5, 3-0 SAC) kicked off South Atlantic Conference action with a convincing sweep over the Tusculum Pioneers (7-7, 0-3 SAC) at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields. Queens dropped the visiting Pioneers yesterday 9-3 before cruising to a pair of victories today, 5-2 and 10-0. The 3-0 start in conference play is the Royals best start in league action in the program's young four-year history.
 
Game 1: Queens 5, Tusculum 2
In the opening game, Queens plated five runs on 12 hits as five Royals, Nick Alderfer, Alex Sexton, Nick Brassington, Garrett Evans and Caleb Foster had multi-hit days for the Royals. Alex Sexton was an impressive 3-for-4 on the day. Nick Melton also tabbed a single, as he extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Justin Offschanka was very impressive on the mound for the Royals totaling 5.2 innings, allowing just 2 hits, with no runs allowed and 4 strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, Landen Wright pitched two more innings of scoreless relief to close it out for the Royals.
 
The two ball clubs would go scoreless in the first. After putting the Pioneers down in order in the second, the Royals added a run in the second, after a double from Alex Sexton scored Christian Maggio. The Royals would work around a jam in the third, stranding a Pioneer runner on second. The Royals would once again add a run in the bottom of the third as Nick Melton would get a lead-off single and swipe second. Then with two outs, Garrett Evans drilled one up the middle to score Melton, as the Royals led 2-0 heading into the fourth.
 
Both the Royals and Pioneers would go scoreless again in the fifth before the Pioneers would add a run in the sixth after they belted a home run over the centerfield fence. The solo shot snapped a streak of eight consecutive scoreless innings by the Queens pitching staff. The Royals would add three key insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on the corners, Carter Foster got a triple down the right-field line, as he scored Nick Melton and Nick Alderfer. Garrett Evans got a single into left field, to score Foster, as the Royals led the Pioneers 5-1 heading into the seventh.
 
The Pioneers would score a run in the seventh, to cut the lead back to three runs, at 5-2. That would be all the scoring for both teams, as each side would go out quietly the rest of the way as the Royals clinched the weekend series with a 5-2 victory.
 
Game 2: Queens 10, Tusculum 0
In game two of the Saturday doubleheader, Queens plated 10 runs on 12 hits as seven Royals tallied a hit in the game. Nick Melton extended his hitting streak to thirteen games, with a double into left center. Caleb Foster, Riley Cheek and Garrett Evans mailed in multi-hit games. Christian Brown was stellar on the bump for the Royals in his first career start, throwing six innings of scoreless baseball, allowing only four hits while fanning four Pioneers. Jordan Briones would also close out the game in the seventh working around a hit.
 
After retiring the Pioneers in the first, the Royals jumped on the Pioneers early. In the bottom of the first, Queens put up three runs on two hits. After a single and a walk put runners on first and second with one out, Garrett Evans smacked a single through the right side to score Carter Foster. After a wild pitch, Riley Cheek scored after the catcher attempted to get Garrett Evans out at second. The Royals loaded the bases before a hit by pitch scored Garrett Evans.
 
The Royals would retire the Pioneers in order in the second. After a lead-off double by Nick Melton, a Carter Foster single would score Melton. Carter Foster would score, on a groundout as the Royals led the Pioneers 5-0 heading into the third. The Royals and Pioneers would go scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
 
Heading into the sixth it remained a 5-0 Royals advantage, before they put up five runs in the sixth. A Garrett Evans single scored Carter Foster, which was followed up by a Nick Brassington sacrifice fly. After loading the bases, a bases clearing double by Zach Weston scored three more runs for the Royals. The Pioneers tried to generate some life in the seventh, after a double put a runner on second with one out. However, the Royals would retire two batters in order to defeat the Pioneers 10-0 and complete the series sweep.
 
The Royals will return to action, next Tuesday March 1^st, against UNC Pembroke at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields to close out their five game homestand. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Queens Sports Network. Be sure to follow the baseball program on Twitter and Instagram. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics to stay up to date with all of Royals Athletics.