CENTRAL, S.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team (24-16, 13-5 SAC) swept their doubleheader with Southern Wesleyan (9-30, 2-19 CC) on Saturday afternoon to sweep the three-game non-conference weekend series with the Warriors. The Royals bats remained red hot, as they combined for 24 hits across both games, including 12 extra-base hits combined on the day. With the hard-fought victories, the Royals picked up their third series sweep on the season. In their last 10 games, Queens is 8-2 while scoring at least 10 runs in their last five outings.
 
Game 1: Queens 12, Southern Wesleyan 4
In the opener, Mason Pickard went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and 3 RBIs. The senior was coming off a performance Friday afternoon finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Dillon Lewis would go 2-for-4, with a double and a home run of his own, while driving in two runs for the Royals. MJ Sasapan, Nick Brassington and Garrett Evans all had base-hits as well for the Royals. Daniel Bagwell closed out the Warriors in game one, pitching three complete innings, allowing just one run on two hits and picking up his third save. The Royals managed to swipe 10 bags in the game setting a new single game program record after tying the record yesterday with seven.
 
With runners on first and second in the first inning, a double into the right-center field gap by Dillon Lewis pushed across the first run for the Royals. On the next at-bat, a sacrifice fly by Garrett Evans scored the second run of the inning for the Royals. The Warriors would respond with a sacrifice fly of their own, trimming the Royals lead to 2-1 heading into the second.
 
In the third, Mason Pickard would get a one-out single before stealing both second and third. On his steal attempt of third, a throwing error by the catcher allowed Pickard to score. The following inning, the Royals would put up five runs in the third taking a commanding 8-1 lead.
 
Consecutive singles and a passed ball put runners on the corners with one out for the Royals. Garrett Evans would follow that up with an RBI single, as Nick Brassington moved to third on the single. On a 3-1 pitch, following Garrett Evans swiping second, a passed ball scored Brassington. With two outs, Mason Pickard belted an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence, giving the Royals a commanding 8-1 lead.
 
In the fourth, a single, a double and a single by the Warriors plated two for the hosting team, trimming the visiting Royals lead to 8-3 heading into the fifth. The Royals would not be deterred, however, as Dillon Lewis led off the fifth with a home run to straightaway center.
 
Three walks loaded the bases for the Royals in the fifth, before a run was scored on a wild pitch. MJ Sasapan would follow that up later in the inning with a two-RBI single, giving the Royals a throttling 12-3 lead.
A walk, a base hit, and a fielder's choice pushed across another run for the Warriors. However, Daniel Bagwell would retire the Warriors in consecutive innings, allowing just one more hit, as the Royals cruised to a 12-4 win in game one of the doubleheader.
 
Game 2: Queens 16, South Wesleyan 13
Game two of the doubleheader had plenty of offensive fireworks, as both teams combined for 33 hits and 12 extra-base hits. Five Royals had multi-hit performances on the day. Tanner Jacobson belted two home runs with 6 RBIs while also picking up the start on the mound for the Royals. Dillon Lewis hit his second home run of the day, while having 3 RBIs. Nick Alderfer, Nick Melton, Nick Brassington and Riley Cheek smacked doubles for the Royals in game two. Zach Kelly picked up the save for the Royals, retiring the Warriors in the ninth to secure the victory.
 
Queens plated runs in seven of nine innings, as they got off to yet another fast start scoring three runs in the first off Tanner Jacobson's 3-run home run. In the second, MJ Sasapan would get a two-out RBI single to plate another run for the Royals. Southern Wesleyan would respond with a two-run home run, cutting the Royals' lead to 4-2 heading into the third.
 
In the third, Nick Alderfer slapped a two-out, two-RBI double into the left center field gap giving the Royals a 6-2 lead. With a runner on second and two outs, a double and a single in consecutive at-bats, scored two for the Royals trimming the Royals lead back to two runs, 6-4.
 
The fireworks would not stop there, as nine total runs were scored in the fourth inning. The Royals would score four, extending their lead to 10-4 on a Nick Brassington double and the second of Tanner Jacobson's three-run blasts. The Warriors would respond, however, with five runs of their own cutting the Royals lead to 10-9 heading into the fifth.
 
In the fifth, a two-out RBI single by the Warriors knotted the game at 10-10, heading into the sixth. After Nick Brassington was hit by a pitch, Dillon Lewis would quickly respond belting the first pitch over the center-field fence. The Warriors would respond once again, however, as three consecutive two-out hits plated one run for the Warriors. The Royals held a slim 12-11 advantage heading into the seventh.
 
MJ Sasapan would keep the scoring going in the seventh, smacking an RBI single through the left side. Another Royal would score later in the inning on a passed ball, extending their lead to 14-11. A slow-rolling single in the bottom of the seventh plated another run for the Warriors in the seventh and a RBI- double in the eighth would plate another for the Warriors. Heading into the ninth, the Royals held a slim 14-13 advantage.
With the bases loaded and one out, the Royals displayed good patience at the plate walking in two consecutive runners for a pair of critical insurance runs. In the final frame, Zach Kelly would put the Warriors down in order as the Royals escaped with the victory. With the hard-fought victory, the Royals picked up their third series sweep of the season.
 
The Royals return to action this Tuesday, April 12^th against the University of Mount Olive at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on the Queens Sports Network. 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.