ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (2-1) outlasted the Flagler Saints (1-2) in their third extra innings showdown of the weekend by dropping the home team 14-10 at Drysdale Field on a dreary Florida afternoon. The four hour and 11-minute showdown was halted early for 20 minutes as rain moved through the area, but the baseball continued afterwards as Queens managed to plate six runs from the ninth inning to the final out.
 
The fireworks began in the ninth inning as Queens trailed 10-8 with just three outs remaining. The Royals would turn to a simplistic approach and cracked five singles to score two runs. Nick Brassington and Alex Sexton got the magic started with consecutive base hits before Nick Melton, Nick Alderfer, and Matt Riley scored Brassington and Sexton home with singles themselves.
 
Having tied the game up in the ninth, the Royals and Saints would battle in extras needing a run. Following a quiet tenth inning, the Royals made a lot of noise in the eleventh as Nick Brassington would reach on an error. With two outs, Nick Melton would record an infield single moving Brassington into scoring position. Nick Alderfer would follow up on the next pitch and shoot a single into center field scoring Brassington for the go-ahead run. Looking to add some insurance, Zach Weston jumped on the first pitch launching a three-run home run into right field to give Queens a four-run advantage in the eleventh. In the bottom half of the inning, Daniel Bagwell would return to the mound and work around a one-out walk to preserve the lead and give Queens the series victory.
 
Bagwell would earn the victory on the afternoon after hurling three innings of shutout baseball while surrendering one hit.
 
Queens wasted no time jumping ahead early as Nick Brassington continued his dominant weekend with a two-out single through the left side to get the Royals on the board first. The Royals would extend their lead in the third capitalizing on a Saints error. Riley Cheek would reach second on a muffed catch in left field before Carter Foster got aboard via a dropped third strike. Broadus Roberson would lace a single up the middle scoring Cheek and advancing Foster to third. MJ Sasapan would follow up with a sacrifice fly to score Foster and give Queens a 3-0 advantage.
 
Flagler would not back down as they worked a walk and hit by pitch to open the inning before the game went into a 20-minute rain delay. Following the delay, the Royals would struggle to find the zone issuing four free passes, including two walks and two hit by pitch which plated three runs. Queens would dial in and get out of the jam to keep the game tied.
 
The fourth inning saw the Royals answer with a four spot before the Saints countered with a four-run inning of their own. In the top half, Nick Melton and Garrett Evans knocked back-to-back doubles before Riley Cheek and Carter Foster launched consecutive home runs to cap the four-run inning. In the bottom half, the Saints used a pair of early walks to set up a Coy Phillips three-run homerun. Flagler would keep the pressure on with back-to-back singles and aggressive baserunning to score their fourth run.
 
Trailing by one in the fifth inning, Queens would get a leadoff walk from MJ Sasapan. After moving up to second on a wild pitch, Nick Melton struck a two-out double into left center scoring Sasapan to even the score 8-8. Both offenses were held in check until the Saints hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to regain the lead. The Royals would not be fazed as they worked their late inning magic to score six runs and complete the comeback victory.
 
Queens was led offensively by Nick Melton who was a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate, including four doubles and two RBI. Nick Brassington capped off a dominant weekend with three more hits and an RBI. For the weekend, the redshirt senior hit .643 with three home runs, five RBI, and six runs. The Royals bullpen from the eighth inning to the final out featuring Landen Wright and Daniel Bagwell were lockdown allowing no runs and one hit while fanning three Saints. As a team, Queens produced 14 runs on 20 hits, which is the second most hits in program history.
 
The Royals will return to the diamond on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Erskine College. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Be sure to follow the Royals baseball program on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest news and updates. Fans can also follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics to get updates on all things Royals Athletics.