WISE, VA. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (27-20, 15-7 SAC) defeated UVA Wise (18-30, 6-16 SAC), 5-4 on Friday night in a critical South Atlantic Conference weekend finale. The Royals totaled 12 hits on the day while holding the Cavaliers to just nine hits, with only one extra-base hit on the day. After trailing 3-0 after the first inning, the Royals crawled back before taking the lead in the eighth, as they took game one of the series and remain in the hunt for a top four seed in the conference tournament next week.
 
Daniel Bagwell was crucial for the Royals out of the bullpen, after having to fill in on short notice following an injury. He pitched a total of 8.1 innings, allowing just one run, on six hits and a season-high nine strikeouts. Riley Cheek led the Royals at the plate, going 3-for-5 on the day with a home run. Mason Pickard went 2-for-3 with a pair doubles and a walk while Carter Foster was clutch for the Royals, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
 
Two straight singles to lead off the game, put a runner in scoring position for the Royals. However, a groundout and a double play ended the threat. The Cavaliers would strike first in their half, plating three runs. A two-out single with runners on the corners plated the first run of the inning before a wild pitch and then a two-RBI single scored two more for the Cavaliers, as they took a 3-0 lead into the second.
 
The Royals would respond right back in the second inning, as they scored two. A single by MJ Sasapan and a double by Mason Pickard put two runners in scoring position with one out for the Royals. On the following at-bat Carter Foster slashed a ball down the right-field line for a two-RBI double.
 
In the third, a double to lead off the inning by the Cavaliers put a runner in scoring position. A bunt to move the runner over to third, followed by an RBI single, extended the Cavaliers lead to 4-2 heading into the fourth. That would be the last run of the game for the Cavaliers, as Bagwell shut them out the rest of the way, holding them to just one hit over the next six innings. The right hander retired next straight Cavalier between the fourth and sixth innings to keep the Royals in the game.
 
Mason Pickard would lead off the fourth inning with his second double of the afternoon. The senior has a hit in nine of the last 10 games, and an extra base hit in eight of those games. Following two consecutive outs, Riley Cheek laced an RBI single back up the middle cutting the deficit to 4-3. Both the Royals and the Cavaliers would be set down in order in the fifth and sixth, as both pitchers began to settle into a groove.
 
After the Cavaliers would go to their bullpen in the seventh, Riley Cheek wasted no time as he belted a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence tying the ballgame at 4-4. The home run was Cheek's 11^th on the season which is second most on the team. A pair of walks would put runners on first and second with one out in the eighth for the Royals before a deep flyout to centerfield by Nick Melton helped advance both runners into scoring position.
 
A wild pitch would bring home Broadus Roberson, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead. The Cavaliers would be set down in order in their half of the eighth. Queens would threaten in the ninth, after a leadoff single and two wild pitches put the runner on second with two outs, however, a groundout to first ended the threat as the visiting Royals went into the final frame with a slim 5-4 advantage.
 
UVA Wise would drop a two-out single to put the tying run on base for the Cavaliers. However, Daniel Bagwell's ninth strikeout of the night ended the threat and secured the victory for the visiting Royals.
 
The Royals return to action tomorrow afternoon, for a doubleheader against the Cavaliers. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with the second game to follow. 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.