CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (18-14, 11-4 SAC) picked up their third straight victory defeating crosstown rival Belmont Abbey (20-12, 11-6 CC), 12-5, at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields on Tuesday Afternoon. The Royals maintain their hot streak, after notching their first top 25 series victory in program history this weekend over Newberry College. The Royals split the regular season series with the Crusaders and improved to 6-4 in their last 10 games.
 
Nick Melton, Carter Foster, Garrett Evans, Dillon Lewis, Nick Brassington and Matt Riley notched multi-hit performances on the day. Riley Cheek, Will Budnick and MJ Sasapan rounded out the offense recording hits on the days as well. Sasapan and Lewis each belted their third home runs of the season in the midweek affair for the Royals. Jeffrey Maidhof picked up the win for Queens, pitching six complete innings allowing four runs with six strikeouts. The bullpen for the Royals shut down the Crusaders, as Zach Kelly and Landen Wright allowed just one earned run across three combined innings.
 
The Royals got the fireworks started early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Matt Riley and Nick Brassington put runners on first and second with one out before Dillon Lewis followed up with a double down the left-field line, scoring Riley. Garrett Evans picked up an infield single, scoring Brassington and a fielder's choice and a single by Carter Foster would score two more runs for the Royals in the first frame.
 
The Crusaders would add a run back in the second, belting a lead-off home run to cut the deficit to 4-1. The pitching staff for both team's would settle in putting up zeros in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
 
In the sixth, the Crusaders would add three runs on four hits. They would once again lead off the inning with a lead-off home run, cutting the Royals' lead to 4-2. With a runner on first, back-to-back doubles scored two more runs for the Crusaders in the sixth.
 
However, the Royals would immediately respond in their half of the sixth inning like they have all season. With two outs and nobody on, back-to-back singles put runners on first and second for the Royals. Riley Cheek and Matt Riley had consecutive singles, to score two runs for the Royals, as they took a 6-4 lead into the seventh.
 
The Royals would extend their lead to a commanding 9-4 margin in the seventh. Dillon Lewis led off the inning, as he belted a 2-1 pitch over the left-center field fence. A single, a walk and a fielder's choice put runners on second and third for the Royals before a wild pitch, and a single by Nick Melton scratched across both runners for the Royals, as they took a 9-4 lead into the eighth.
 
The Royals would put add three more runs on the board in the eighth, taking a smothering 12-4 lead. With a runner on second with two outs, Garrett Evans would smack a double scoring the runner from second. MJ Sasapan would follow that up, as he smashed a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence.
 
The Crusaders would hit a home run in the ninth, to push across one more run, however, a double play and a flyout would get the Royals the victory in the midweek clash of crosstown rivals.
 
The Royals return to action tomorrow night against Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm. Be sure to follow the baseball program on Twitter and Instagram. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics, to stay up to date with all of Royals Athletics.