CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (12-10, 6-2 South Atlantic Conference) opened the weekend series with convincing victories over the Limestone Saints (3-22, 1-7 South Atlantic Conference) in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields. The afternoon sweep improved the Royals league record to 6-2 as they will look to complete their second conference sweep this season on Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m.
 
Game One: Queens 9 | Limestone 1
 
The series opener was highlighted by an incredible performance from Royals starter, Nick Charleson (4-3). The senior tossed his fourth career complete game, and became the first Royals to go the distance this season. Across nine innings, Charleson surrendered just two hits and a run while fanning six Saints. The remarkable outing lowered the seniors season ERA to 1.98 and it's the fourth time this season Charleson has gone into the sixth inning.
 
Offensively, the Royals exploded for 11 hits marking the 10^th time this season Queens has reached double-digit hits. Eight different Royals recorded a hit, including multi-hit performances from Nick Brassington, Matt Riley, and Christian Maggio.
 
The Royals would strike first in the top of the first inning with one run on a hit. Queens would capitalize on a Saints error and two walks to strike first.
 
Limestone would even the score in the top of the fourth with a solo home run for their first hit of the afternoon. Prior to the solo blast, Nick Charleson retired nine Saints in order. However, the offense wasted no time getting the run back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on three hits. A leadoff single from Matt Riley set up a Zach Weston single via a bunt. Christian Maggio would lace a double into right field plating Riley before Nick Alderfer grounded out to shortstop bringing home Weston to give Queens a 3-1 lead.
 
Both offenses would go quiet during the middle innings of game one until Nick Brassington roped a double into left field to kick off the seventh. Carter Foster and Will Budnick would lace lineouts, but each being deep enough to advance Brassington up 90-feet until scoring on the Budnick sacrifice.
 
Leading 4-1, Queens blew it open in the eighth inning with a leadoff home run from Dillon Lewis. The solo blast to centerfield was his first collegiate round tripper. Following the solo shot, the Royals would plate three insurance runs on three hits and capitalizing on a Saints error. MJ Sasapan and Nick Brassington would each record a hit in their final plate appearance as Queens kicked off the weekend with a 9-1 win.
 
Game Two: Queens 13 | Limestone 0
 
 In the afternoon cap, the Royals got a near perfect performance from starter Tanner Jacobson (0-0). The junior hurled a complete seven innings, including six perfect innings with nine strikeouts as Queens secured their third weekend series victory of the season with a dominant 13-0 victory.
 
After retiring 18 straight Saints, Tanner Jacobson took a perfect game into the seventh inning looking to be the first Royal ever to throw a perfect game. Limestone's leadoff man wasted no time breaking the bid up with a single through the right side ending the streak. Offensively, the Royals bats erupted again early as Queens plated 13 runs on 18 hits. The 18 hit performance is the third most hits by the veteran program this season.
 
Queens jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Nick Brassington launched his eighth home run of the season. Nick Alderfer would open the inning with a single up the middle before Brassington barreled one over the center field fence.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Royals would add onto their lead with four runs on five hits. Carter Foster, Matt Riley, and Riley Cheek would smack singles before Will Budnick roped a double down the right field line scoring a pair. The scoring was not over yet as Zach Weston stepped in and singled through the right side bringing Budnick around to extend the Royals lead 6-0.
 
After going down in order, Queens added another run with two-outs. Will Budnick hit a single down the left field line before Zach Weston crushed a double down the left field line bringing Budnick around.
 
Queens erupted in the bottom of the sixth with six runs on six hits to seal the game. Nick Brassington opened the inning with a double into center field before Carter Foster drilled a two-run home run into left field for his fourth home run of the season. Dillon Lewis would follow up the homer with a triple in the right center gap giving way to a single for Matt Riley up the middle. After a hit by pitch and Saints pitching change, Will Budnick would smack his third hit of the game down the right field line scoring a pair for his third and fourth RBI's of the game. Christian Maggio would round out the afternoon with a single into right center scoring Budnick and giving the Royals a shutout 13-0 win.
 
The Royals will have tomorrow off due to expected inclement weather in Charlotte, but the two programs will face off on Sunday, March 13 at 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.