WINGATE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (10-10, 4-3 SAC) had a tough midweek matinee with No. 1 Wingate (18-2, 6-0 SAC) on the road as the Royals fell by a final score of 7-2 on Tuesday afternoon. The loss drops the Royals back to .500 and 5-7 in games played away from Tuckaseegee Dream Fields.
 
The Royals bats were held in check for most of the game as Queens plated two runs on five hits while committing two fielding errors. The reigning National Champions from Wingate managed to score seven runs off eight hits while playing a clean game in the field. Senior Nick Brassington led the way for the Royals offense picking up his 12^th multi-hit performance this season, including a third consecutive game after knocking two hits. Brassington also drove in the only Royals runs on the afternoon lacing his team-best seventh home run in the top of the ninth to shatter the shutout. Carter Foster, Zach Weston, and Christian Maggio would round out the offense each drilling a base hit. On the mound, Jeffery Maidhof gave the Royals three solid innings to close the game picking up two strikeouts while surrendering a run on three hits.
 
After a clean top of the first inning from the Bulldogs starter, Wingate capitalized on a one-out walk. A single through the right side was followed up with a two RBI double down the right field line to give the top ranked Bulldogs an early lead. Royals starter, Kei Yamagishi (1-1) would work around the jam picking up back-to-back outs and minimize the damage.
 
In the bottom of the third, Wingate would add two more runs on one hit as they capitalized on consecutive hit by pitches to open the inning. In the top of the fourth, the Royals would get their first base runner after the first ten bats were sat down in order. A one-out infield single from Nick Brassington would set up a Carter Foster single down the left field line to get Queens in scoring position for the first time. The Bulldogs would not budge however picking up a strikeout and ground ball to escape unscathed.
 
In the fifth and sixth innings, Wingate would continue to extend their lead plating three runs on five hits across the middle innings. A two-run shot into left center opened the lead to 6-0 before back-to-back two-out hits in the sixth would further the lead to 7-0.
 
From the fifth inning through the eighth inning, Wingate's bullpen would face the minimum 12 batters despite the Royals getting a base runner on each inning. The Bulldogs managed to roll a double play in three straight innings to not allow the Royals any momentum.
 
The Royals would finally strike a pair of runs in the ninth after a lead off hit by pitch from Christian Maggio. Nick Brassington would step in with one out and crush his seventh home run of the season over left field to end the shutout.
 
The Royals will return to the diamond this weekend when they continue South Atlantic Conference play by welcoming Limestone University to Tuckaseegee Dream Fields. The three-game weekend series will open on Friday, March 11 at 2:00 p.m. The two squads will wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. Game two will start at approximately 3:00 p.m. and will be a seven-inning affair. 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.