SALISBURY, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (10-9, 4-2 SAC) split Saturday's doubleheader with Catawba (11-9, 2-1 SAC) at Newman Park. The Royals drop their first conference series of the year after losing Friday's game.
 
Game 1: Queens 5, Catawba 6
Eight Royals grabbed a hit on the day. Three Royals, Nick Brassington, Carter Foster, and Garrett Evans had multi-hit days for the Royals. Riley Cheek and Garrett Evans had two RBIs apiece in the first game. Daniel Bagwell pitched three innings of scoreless relief for the Royals. He allowed only one hit on the day.
 
The game would start with three combined hits in the first two innings, as the score remained tied 0-0 heading into the third. In the top of the third, Riley Cheek blasted a 3-2 fastball into the right-center gap for a two-RBI double, scoring Carter Foster and Nick Brassington. On the next at-bat, Garrett Evans would drill a single to right to score Cheek. In the bottom half of the inning, a double and a home run plated four runs for the Indians.
 
In the fourth inning, a hit-by-pitch, and singles by Christian Maggio and Nick Melton loaded the bases for the Royals with one out. Nick Brassington would knot the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly to center field. The Royals would put the Indians down in order, as the game went into the fifth still tied. After the Royals went down in order in the fifth, the Indians would put runners on first and second with one out following back-to-back walks. A single and a sacrifice fly would score two for the Indians in the fifth.
 
In the seventh, a Garrett Evans single would score Nick Brassington after his lead-off double to start the inning. That would be all the Royals could muster in the seventh, however, after the Indians would work around runners on first and second. The Royals pitching staff would keep the Indians offense at bay, however, the Indians pitching staff would stifle the Royals bats the rest of the way.
 
The Royals would put a runner on third with one out in the eighth, put two consecutive flyouts stranded the runner. A double play and a flyout to centerfield in the ninth, secured the slim 6-5 victory for the Indians.
 
Game 2 Queens 11, Catawba 4
Five Royals, Nick Brassington, Carter Foster, Broadus Roberson, Riley Cheek, and MJ Sasapan had multiple hits in the nightcap. Roberson slapped a pair of doubles for the Royals, while Cheek added one of his own. Landen Wright pitched three innings of scoreless, no-hit relief.
 
The Royals would get off to a fast start in the first inning. After a lead-off walk by Nick Melton and a single by Nick Brassington put runners on first and second with one out, a Riley Cheek double scored both Royals. After Cheek advanced on a wild pitch, a ground out by Garrett Evans scored Cheek as the Royals took an early 3-0 lead.
 
The Royals would conjure up a two-out rally to add five more runs in the second, to take a commanding 8-0 lead. A Nick Brassington single scored Nick Melton, followed by a Carter Foster single that scored Jack Carris. Riley Cheek would keep the rally going with another single, scoring Brassington. A Garrett Evans single and a Broadus Roberson double would score Foster and Cheek. In all, the Royals pieced together five straight hits to score five runs in the second.
 
The Royals would tack on another run in the third on a Nick Brassington RBI single. The Indians would cut into the lead on a two-run home run. The Royals would go down in order in the fourth and the Indians would tack on two more in the fourth. A hit by pitch and two singles loaded the bases for the Indians. A fielder's choice would score the first run and on the next at-bat, a sacrifice fly scored the Indians fourth run of the game. The Royals led the Indians, 9-4 heading into the 5^th.
 
The Royals would keep the Indians scoreless the rest of the way, as Landen Wright would shut down the Indians offense. The Royals would tack on insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, as they cruised to an 11-4 victory over the Indians in the finale of the three-game series.
 
The Royals return to action this Tuesday as they travel to Wingate University, for a crosstown matchup with No. 1 Wingate. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. 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.