DUE WEST, S.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (3-1) rolled to their second straight victory on Wednesday afternoon taking down the Erskine College Flying Fleet (1-2) by a final score of 19-6 at Grier Field. The Royals improved to 3-1 on the season and have scored 33 runs on 40 hits across their last two games. The 20 hits this afternoon fall one short of tying the program's single game record which was set at Mars Hill on March 8, 2020 (21 hits).
 
The afternoon was highlighted by the Royals relentless, yet patient approach at the plate. Queens smacked 20 hits while also drawing eight walks. Ten Royals earned a hit in the mammoth victory, including multi-hit performances from Nick Brassington, Riley Cheek, Christian Maggio, Carter Foster, Nick Melton, and Zach Weston. Brassington would continue his dominant start to the new season picking up four hits, including three doubles and an RBI. Riley Cheek would add three hits and three RBI's and Christian Maggio totaled three hits and three runs.
 
In three of the Royals first four games, Queens has jumped on the board first. Today, the Royals maintained that early aggression by plating three in the second inning on four hits and an error. A leadoff single by Christian Maggio would set up Nick Brassington to shoot a double into left center and get the Royals offense in rhythm. Nick Alderfer would follow up by reaching on an error which scored Maggio. After consecutive putouts, Zach Weston and Riley Cheek would smack back-to-back singles scoring Brassington and Alderfer.
 
The Fleet would not seem bothered by the early scoring as they came in during the bottom half of the second and put up a six spot on five hits and one Royals error.
 
After both teams went scoreless in the third, the visiting Royals would answer with a four spot in the fourth inning. Queens managed to rattle off five hits and four runs with two outs in the inning. The first two Royals would be retired quickly, but Riley Cheek got the inning started with a double into centerfield. A single by Carter Foster would score Cheek before Alex Sexton smashed his first homerun of the season to left center. Queens was not done as Christian Maggio would spark another rally with a two-out single following the home run. Nick Brassington would smoke his third double of the game and score Maggio to give the Royals a 7-6 lead.
 
Queens would add another run in the fifth inning after Nick Melton hit a one-out single into left center. The junior would swipe second before reaching third on a wild pitch. With two outs and Melton on third, Riley Cheek would deliver with a double into left center scoring Melton extending the Royals lead to 8-6.
 
The Royals broke the game open with a long seventh inning that saw nine runners cross the plate on five hits, five walks, and three errors. Nick Melton, Zach Weston, Christian Maggio, Nick Brassington, and Carter Foster each recorded a base hit during the inning as Queens led 17-6.
 
The eighth inning opened with a leadoff pinch hit single from MJ Sasapan to right field. The Fleet would tally consecutive outs, but a Matt Riley hit by pitch and Jack Carris walk loaded the bases for Mason Pickard. The senior delievered the final pair of runs with a single up the middle scoring Sasapan and Riley. Queens would make quick work of the Fleet in the bottom of the eighth inning before the game was called due to darkness.
 
The Royals will return to the diamond for a three-game series this weekend beginning on Friday at Lander University. The Royals will square off with Francis Marion at Stephen B. Dolny Stadium at 11:00 a.m. before heading back to Charlotte. Queens will play in their home opener on Saturday when they welcome Lander for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch. The weekend will conclude on Sunday when Queens plays Lander at 1:30 p.m. at Tuckaseegee Dream Parks.
 
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