BELMONT, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (13-11, 7-2 SAC) dropped their midweek matchup to Belmont Abbey (16-8, 7-4), 10-8, on Tuesday night following a weekend conference sweep. The Royals will return to action this weekend with a three-game conference series against Mars Hill at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields beginning Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
 
Matt Riley led the Royals with three hits, going 3-for-5 with a homerun and three RBI's. Dillon Lewis and Carter Foster both recorded multi-hit games with multiple RBI's as Lewis went 2-for-5 with a triple while Carter Foster logged two hits. Nick Brassington and Garrett Evans also notched hits for the Royals. Daniel Bagwell threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to close the game, allowing no hits and fanning a pair.
 
The Crusaders struck first in the opening inning on a two-out single into left field. In the second and third, both the Royals and Crusaders went down in order. Following a lead-off walk, Matt Riley belted a two-out, two-run homerun over the right field fence to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. The round tripper was the rookies first career home run for the Royals.
 
The Crusaders would quickly respond, however, smashing a three-run home run of their own over the right-field fence. Heading into the fifth, the Crusaders held a 4-2 lead. In the fifth, the Royals loaded the bases with two walks and an error, with one out. A Carter Foster single scored both Royals, as they knotted the game at 4-4. Back-to-back doubles to lead off the fifth, gave the Crusaders the lead right back.
 
In the sixth, the Crusaders extended their lead, scoring four runs. Three consecutive singles with one out, scored a run for the Crusaders. On the next at-bat, a three-run home run gave the Crusaders a 9-4 lead heading into the seventh.
 
The Royals continued to fight back, however, as they added four runs of their own in the seventh. A Carter Foster single scored the first run and on the very next at-bat, a triple by Dillon Lewis scored two more Royals. A Matt Riley single would score the fourth run of the inning for the Royals. The Crusaders, added a run back with a two-out double in the eighth.
 
Both the Royals and the Crusaders went down in order, as the game went to the 9^th. The Royals would get a runner on in the last inning, but would be retired in order after, as the Crusaders beat the Royals 10-8.
 
The Royals return to action this weekend, with a three-game series against Mars Hill University. All three games will be at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2 p.m. and Saturday features a doubleheader with the first pitch scheduled for 12pm. 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.