CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (13-12, 7-3 SAC) fell in the first of the three-game series to Mars Hill University (11-13, 5-4 SAC) at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields on Friday afternoon. The Royals will return for a double header tomorrow against the Lions, beginning at 12:30 as they look to sweep the day and secure their fourth weekend series win on the season. Please note that the game has been pushed back to 12:30 from it's original noon start time.
 
On the day, six Royals recorded a hit, including another multi-hit performance from Nick Brassington. The senior went 2-for-4 on the day with a pair of singles for his 20^th multi-hit performance this season. Dillon Lewis, Matt Riley, and Nick Melton each added an RBI for the Royals. Zach Kelly and Daniel Bagwell were stellar out of the bullpen for the Royals throwing a combined 3.2 innings of scoreless relief while allowing just 1 hit.
 
The Lions would jump out to an early lead on the Royals in the first, scoring three runs. With two outs and nobody on, the Lions would get a single and then a double to put runners on second and third. The next batter would smack a triple to center, scoring both runners. A single in the next at-bat would score the third run. However, the Royals would respond in their half of the first, putting runners on first and second before a Matt Riley single into left-center field scored a run for the Royals cutting into the deficit.
 
In the third, Carter Foster led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch, and then tagging up and advancing to third on a flyout. Dillon Lewis would get Foster home on a sacrifice fly to centerfield, cutting the Lions lead to 3-2, heading into the fourth.
 
Mars Hill would add a run of their own in the fourth. After putting runners on the corners, a bunt that led to an infield single plated a run for the Lions. The visitors would load the bases, but the Royals would get consecutive strikeouts to limit the damage.
 
After both teams went scoreless in the fifth, the Royals would add a run back in the sixth. A single and a walk put runners on first and second with two outs before a single by Nick Melton into right center field, scored Riley Cheek, as the Royals cut the deficit to just one run.
 
Both team's pitching staffs would be lockdown the rest of the way, as neither team was able to plate a run. The rest of the game saw only one hit, as the game quickly became a duel between the pitching staffs. The Lions retired the last nine batters of the game for the Royals in order, as they narrowly escaped with a 4-3 victory.
 
The Royals will return to action tomorrow, with a doubleheader against Mars Hill at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and the second game has an estimated start time of 3:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow the baseball program on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest news and updates surrounding the Royals. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media, to stay up to date with all of Royals Athletics.