FIRST PITCH
Score: UNC Greensboro 14 | Queens 9
Records: UNCG (8-6 overall, 0-0 SoCON) | Queens (3-10 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Tuckaseegee Dream Fields)
 
The Short Story: The visiting UNC Greensboro Spartans baseball team used a pair of five-run innings to take game one of the weekend series against the Royals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-The Royals cracked the scoring column first as they plated four runs on two hits and one error in the bottom of the third inning. Following a one-out double to left center from Nick Alderfer, Riley Cheek worked a walk before Nick Brassington reached second base on an error by the Spartans second baseman. The defensive miscue brought Alderfer in for the first run of the game. With the bases loaded and two outs, Zach Weston was hit by a pitch that extended the lead to 2-0. Christian Maggio would lace a single to center field which brought around Lewis and Brassington for the 4-0 lead.

-UNCG responded immediately in the fourth inning as they scored five runs on five hits and capitalized on a Royals error.

-Queens answered in the bottom half of the inning when Sam Hunter roped his first collegiate home run to right field to lead off the inning. Riley Cheek would lace a single to left field before JJ Sousa ripped a two-out single. Dillon Lewis would come through clutch with a double to right center bringing Cheek in the score which extended the lead to 6-5.

-The visitors would tack on nine more runs in the final five innings.

-Queens would fight for three runs in the ninth inning as Riley Cheek lead off the inning with a solo home run. Following back-to-back singles from Nick Brassington and JJ Sousa, Dillon Lewis worked a walk to load the bases. Pinch hitter Will Budnick came through clutch with a two-run single into right field to cut the deficit to 14-9. The Spartans would get an infield pop-up and a 5-4-3 double play to escape with the victory.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Dillon Lewis knocked his third multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-3 night. The sophomore ripped a pair of doubles and increased his extra-base hit total to eight.

-JJ Sousa posted a 3-for-5 evening with a pair of singles.

-Riley Cheek extended his hitting streak to nine games with a multi-hit afternoon.

-Sam Hunter cranked his first collegiate home run to right field in the fourth inning.

-Nine Royals recorded a base hit on the night.

-UNC Greensboro managed to get their leadoff hitter on in 6-of-9 innings which translated to a .368 batting average with runners in scoring position.

-Queens surrendered the most hits in a single game in program history as the Spartans rattled off 21 hits.

-The Royals committed four errors on defense which tied for the most this season.

NEXT UP
The Royals will turn around and head to UNC Greensboro on Saturday, March 11^th for a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with the second game following 45 minutes after. Both games will be nine-inning games. Please note, this is a schedule change due to the forecast on Sunday.
 
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