FIRST PITCH
Score: Appalachian State 13 | Queens 5
Records: Appalachian State (3-0 overall, 0-0 Sun Belt) | Queens (0-3 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: LP Frans Stadium (Hickory, N.C.)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team stranded 15 runners in the series finale against Appalachian State on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-For the third straight game, the Mountaineers managed to strike first in the early innings. Andrew Terrell led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to left field on a 1-1 slider. Just two pitches later, Xavier Moronta launched a home run to right field for the 2-0 lead.
-Appalachian State would extend their early lead to 5-0 in the second inning by capitalizing on a Royals error. With two outs and a runner on second, Jonathan Xuereb reached on an error by the Royals infield which also brought home the baserunner. Andrew Terrell stepped in and blasted his second home run of the game to left center to run the score to 5-0 after two innings.
-Queens got their first scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning. A hit-by-pitch, walk, and wild pitch would get the Royals into scoring position with no outs. The Mountaineers would get a strikeout before loading the bases after walking Dillon Lewis. App State would get another strikeout and infield groundout to leave the Royals stranded.
-The Mountaineers would turn around and add a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff single and stolen base got the Mountaineers in scoring position with nobody out. A fly out to right field advanced the base runner to third before a CJ Boyd single through the left side brought home the run. Boyd would swipe second before Luke Drumheller knocked a two-out single up the middle extending the Mountaineers lead to 7-0.
-Queens plated their first run of the game in the fourth inning by capitalizing on a Mountaineers miscue. Nick Alderfer worked a one-out walk becoming the fifth Royal to reach base in the third straight inning. JD Coleman blasted a shot to center field which fell in for a two-base error bringing Alderfer around for the Royals first run.
-App State would put a crooked number up in the fourth consecutive inning as they capitalized on three hits and two Queens errors. With runners on first and third and one out, the Mountaineers laced three straight hits, including a double to plate four runs.
-Queens answered in the top of the fifth inning using a patient approach at the plate. The Royals scratched across four runs on no hits as they drew six walks and a hit by pitch.
-The Royals would return the favor in the bottom half of the inning as the Mountaineers scored two runs on one hit. After inducing a double play following a leadoff hit by pitch, the Royals surrendered a hit by pitch and back-to-back walks to load the bases. Hayden Cross would come through for his second and third RBIs of the game with a single to center field.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Nick Brassington laced his second extra-base hit of the season with a one-out double in the eighth inning.
-Riley Cheek, Tyler Cotto, Nick Alderfer, Colin Gross, and Tyler Peters each recorded a single on the day.
-Freshman Marshall Pile and senior Justin Offschanka combined for 3.0 scoreless relief innings and four strikeouts to close out the game.
-The Royals drew 11 walks on the day which tied for the most in a single game in program history.
-Queens had at least one base runner in eight of the nine innings. The Royals managed to get at least two or more base runners in five innings.
-The Royals were unable to capitalize with runners on base all weekend as they stranded 33 runners over the three games.
 
FROM COACH STEEDLEY
"Our guys just need to learn and think about these three games and where we can improve. That begins when we get back on campus and we will get back in the weight room and practice on Tuesday and then we go play South Carolina on Wednesday and that will be another great opportunity. It's a competitive environment and our guys will learn from it."

NEXT UP
The Royals will hit the road again on Wednesday, February 22^nd for a midweek matinee with the University of South Carolina. The first pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. from Founders Park. Fans can tune in live on SEC Network or ESPN Plus. Be sure to purchase tickets in advance by visiting the South Carolina Athletics website.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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