FIRST PITCH
Score: Appalachian State 5 | Queens 2
Records: Appalachian State (2-0 overall, 0-0 Sun Belt) | Queens (0-2 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: LP Frans Stadium (Hickory, N.C.)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team fell in game two of the weekend series to Appalachian State as their bats were held at bay by the Mountaineers staff.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Appalachian State threatened first in the bottom of the first inning capitalizing on a one-out error by the Royals. With two outs and runners on first and second, CJ Boyd singled through the right side and the Mountaineers waved the runner home. Royals right fielder JJ Sousa threw a laser home to cut down the run at the plate and escape the inning.
-The Mountaineers would strike first in the third inning with a pair of runs on three hits. App State knocked back-to-back singles to open the inning before Hayden Cross singled into right center plating the game's first run. A deep fly out to right field from CJ Boyd would advance both runners up and into scoring position before a one-out walk loaded the bases. Golston Gillespie brought home the second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field.
-App State would tack on three more runs on four hits in the fourth inning. The Mountaineers hit a pair of one-out singles before Hayden Cross doubled into right field for an RBI. CJ Boyd would bring in the second run on an infield groundout before Dylan Rogers laced a two-out RBI double into right field.
-The Royals showed life in the top of the sixth inning following an App State pitching change. Zach Weston and Christian Maggio worked back-to-back walks before Nick Alderfer advanced both runners on a fielder's choice. With two outs, freshman Andrew McDermott came up clutch with a two-RBI triple to center field.
-In the final three innings, Queens got a base runner aboard in every frame, but the Mountaineers bullpen induced double plays in the eighth and ninth innings to escape any damage.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Rookie Andrew McDermott notched his first collegiate hit with a two-RBI triple in the sixth inning.
-After missing the second half of last season due to injury, senior Zach Weston recorded his first hit since March 13^th, 2022. The Charlotte native filled in as the designated hitter and laced a single into right field in the eighth inning.
-Christian Maggio laced his first hit of the season with a one-out single in the fourth inning.
-Leadoff hitter Riley Cheek managed to work three walks on the afternoon.
-As a team, Queens displayed their patience at the plate working nine walks which is the fourth most in a single game.
-Freshman Joseph Ruller made his first career start on the bump. The southpaw surrendered two runs and four hits across 3.0 innings of work.
-Rookie Brandon Dahlman made his first collegiate appearance and threw a solid 2.0 scoreless innings.
 
FROM COACH STEEDLEY
"It's going to come. These guys are trying, probably a little too hard and that's a credit because they care. They want to win and come out of the gates early and get off to a good start, but sometimes in this sport you can't approach it that way.

NEXT UP
The Royals and Mountaineers will wrap up the opening weekend series on Sunday, February 19^th at 1:00 p.m. from LP Frans Stadium in Hickory. Fans can purchase their tickets in advance by visiting the Queens Athletics website.
 
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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