PEMBROKE, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (21-16, 13-5 SAC) fell to #24 UNC Pembroke, 11-10, in a thrilling back-and-forth game in Pembroke, N.C. on Wednesday afternoon. The afternoon saw seven home runs between the two powerful offenses, including the final blast in the bottom of the eighth inning by the Braves to give them an 11-10 lead. The 10 runs for the Royals mark the 12^th time this season that Queens has plated at least 10 runs in a game as they rank in the top 40 nationally in total runs scored.
 
Dillon Lewis, Nick Brassington, Nick Melton and MJ Sasapan each had a pair of hits on the afternoon. Riley Cheek, Brassington and Melton would each blast home runs on the day for Queens. Dillon Lewis, Garrett Evans, and MJ Sasapan would also get extra-base hits on the day, as each hit a double for the Royals. Jeffery Maidhof pitched three innings out of the bullpen for the Royals, allowing zero earned runs on three hits.
 
The Braves would get on the board first in the first inning, as they belted a one-out two-run home run to dead center to take a 2-0 lead. In the second, Garrett Evans would hit a double into left field before MJ Sasapan would follow that up with another double to score Evans, cutting the Braves lead to 2-1. The Braves would scratch across another run in the second on another home run, giving them a 3-1 lead heading into the third.
 
With runners on first and second with one out, the Braves would scratch across another run on a Royals throwing error. After a scoreless fourth, the visiting Royals exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth inning. A lead-off walk, followed by a single that led to a throwing error by the Braves scored the first run of the inning for the Royals. A single and a walk would load the bases before another run was scored for the Royals.
 
A sacrifice fly by Nick Brassington pushed across another run for Queens, tying the game at 4-4. A double by Dillon Lewis would score another and then a two-RBI single by MJ Sasapan gave the Royals a 7-4 lead. The Braves would respond, however, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning to trim the Royals lead to 7-6.
 
In the sixth inning, Riley Cheek would smash a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence to give the Royals an 8-6 lead heading into the seventh inning. Nick Brassington would follow that up with a home run of his own in the seventh, giving the Royals a late 9-6 lead. The nationally ranked Braves would respond right back, however, scoring four runs in their half of the seventh capped off by a three-run home run to retake the lead 10-9.
 
The back-and-forth affair would not stop there, as Nick Melton blasted a pitch over the right center field fence, tying the game 10-10. The solo shot was the juniors second blast of the season. The fireworks would continue, as the Braves would respond right back with the decisive home run in their half of the inning. A double play and a lineout would put down the Royals in order in the ninth, as the Braves outlasted the Royals 11-10.
 
The Royals will return to action this weekend against South Wesleyan University on Friday, April 8th. Game one will be held at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields and will be broadcasted on the Queens Sports Network. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. For games two and three, the Royals will travel to Central, S.C. for a doubleheader with Southern Wesleyan beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9^th.
 
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