GASTONIA, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (26-20, 14-7 SAC) fell to #3 North Greenville University (38-7, 23-4 CC), 12-6, at Carmont Health Park on Wednesday night. The bats were hot for both offenses as the Crusaders totaled 19 hits on the day while the Royals recorded 10 hits. The mark is the 28^th time the Royals have posted 10 or more hits in a game, and their fifth straight game. The ball was flying at Caromont Health Park, as both teams combined for six home runs on the day. The Crusaders victory completes the regular season sweep over the Royals this season.
 
Nick Melton led the Royals at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double. Nick Brassington and Dillon Lewis each blasted a home run for the Royals while Matt Riley added an extra base hit of his own. Along with Melton, Riley Cheek also had a multi-hit day going 2-for-5 on the day with two singles.
 
With runners on the corners, a wild pitch by the Royals plated the first run of the game for the Crusaders in the top of the first. After a scoreless second, the Royals would take their first lead of the game with a three-run third. Nick Melton would lead the inning off with a double before later scoring on a fielder's choice to tie the game. An error and then a no-doubt two-run home run by Dillon Lewis gave the Royals the lead. The blast was the freshman's seventh this season, and second in the last three games.
 
In the fourth, a single and a double would put two runners in scoring position for the Crusaders. On the next batter, they would score on a wild pitch, however, a pop out and a strikeout limited the damage to just one run.
 
Maintaining their slim 3-2 lead, Nick Melton led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run over the left field fence, extending the Royals' lead to 4-2. The round tripper was Melton's third this season, and first since April 6 at UNC Pembroke. In the sixth, a leadoff double, a walk, and a single loaded the bases for the Crusaders. A pop out to the infield would follow, however, a sacrifice fly plated the first run of the inning. On the next at-bat, the Crusaders would tie the game at 4-4 with an RBI single.
 
In the seventh, the Crusaders would plate five runs taking a commanding 9-4 lead. With two runners in scoring position, a two-out two-RBI single gave the Crusaders the lead again. An infield single, an error and an RBI single plated two more for the Crusaders.
 
The Royals would attempt to claw back, as Nick Brassington would hit his team-leading 15^th home run of the year in the bottom of the seventh. With a runner on first, his two-run home run cut the deficit to 9-6 for the Royals. The senior now sits at second in the South Atlantic Conference just one home run off the leader.
 
Two home runs in the eighth for the Crusaders extended their lead to 12-6. The Royals would put a runner in scoring position, however, a flyout to centerfield ended the threat. In the ninth, with runners on first and second the Royals turned a double play to end the Crusaders threat. They headed into the final frame, trailing 12-6.
 
The Royals would draw a one-out walk, however, they would otherwise be put down in order as they fell to the Crusaders 12-6 in the midweek bout.
 
The Royals return to action this weekend, as they travel on the road for a conference series against UVA Wise. The first pitch on Friday night, April 22^nd, is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The weekend is a crucial series for the Royals, as they are battling with Lincoln Memorial for a top-four seed in next week's South Atlantic Conference Tournament.
 
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