FIRST PITCH
Score: Tennessee Tech 13 | Queens 2
Records: Tennessee Tech (5-6 overall, 0-0 OVC) | Queens (3-8 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Tuckaseegee Dream Fields, N.C.)
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped the weekend series with the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles with a 13-2 loss on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Golden Eagles opened the afternoon using their power to gain an early lead. In the first at-bat, Tennessee Tech doubled to right field, which would then set up Hayden Gilliland to homer to the right field to give them the 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, the Golden Eagles got on base from a walk, which was then followed by a Troy Baunsgard home run to left field to give Tennessee Tech the 4-0 start.
-The Golden Eagles would add another run in the second inning by capitalizing on three walks. With bases loaded and one out, Theo Bryant would send a sacrifice fly into right center extending their lead to 5-0.
-The Royals answered quickly in the bottom of the second inning. A Will Budnick leadoff single would set up a Dillon Lewis two-run home run to left field. The homer was the sophomore's team-leading fourth this season.
-Tennessee Tech would add three more runs in the fourth inning on three hits. Despite a leadoff walk, Blake Efird issued a 6-4-3 double play. The visitors would do their damage with two outs following a walk. Eddie Garza would rip an RBI double to right field before Peyton Mills homered to left center which extended their lead to 8-2.
-The visitors managed to add another crooked number with a five spot in the fifth inning. The Golden Eagles plated five runs on four hits, including another Peyton Mills home run.
-Marshall Pile, Justin Offschanka, and Joseph Rodriguez combined to throw 4.2 scoreless innings of relief to close the game. Marshall Pile struck out five Golden Eagles.
BY THE NUMBERS
-Dillon Lewis cranked his team-leading fourth home run of the season, and third of the weekend series.
-Will Budnick and Sam Hunter turned in multi-hit performances. Budnick increased his season batting average to .400.
-The Queens pitching staff issued 13 walks, which is the most in a single game in program history.
-Riley Cheek extended his hitting streak to seven games with a 1-for-3 afternoon.
- Marshall Pile lowered his season ERA to 3.38 with 2.2 scoreless innings on the day.
-The Golden Eagles managed to get their lead off hitter on in 6-of-9 opportunities which translated to a .316 team batting average.
NEXT UP
The Royals will travel to Kannapolis, N.C. on Tuesday, March 7th to face the 9th-ranked East Carolina Pirates. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Atrium Health Ballpark. Fans can follow the action live by visiting the Queens Athletics website which will be on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the baseball program on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with Queens Baseball. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics, to stay up to date with all of the Royals' Athletics.
