FIRST PITCH
Score: Central Arkansas 7 | Queens 5
Records: Central Arkansas (13-14 overall, 5-3 ASUN) | Queens (5-22 overall, 1-7 ASUN)
Location: Conway, Ark. (Bear Stadium)
 
The Short Story: Junior Connor Manco delivered a career night at the plate as the Royals battled the Central Arkansas Bears on Saturday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Royals would strike first with three runs in the top of the first inning. Following a one-out walk from Andrew McDermott, senior Nick Brassington delivered a two-out home run down the left-field line for his second of the series. After a single from Tyler Cotto and a walk from JD Coleman, junior Connor Manco would place an RBI single between the Bears defense to extend the lead to 3-0.
-Central Arkansas responded in the bottom half with two runs on three hits. Royals starter Jeffery Maidhof picked up an 8-6-3 double play.
-The Bears would add two more runs on two hits and a Queens error to grab their first lead of the game at 4-3.
-Queens would answer quickly in the third inning to even the score. JD Coleman would lace a leadoff double to center field before Connor Manco followed that up with an RBI double to right field.
-The Royals would add a run in the top of the sixth inning to grab a 5-4 lead. Riley Cheek would lead off the frame getting hit by a pitch. Tyler Cotto would work a one-out walk before JD Coleman flied out to right field which advanced Cheek to third. Connor Manco would deliver again with an RBI single through the right side.
-Central Arkansas managed to string together four hits and plate two runs to recapture the lead at 6-5.
-The Bears would capitalize on a pair of Royals errors in the eighth inning to add an insurance run to grow their lead to 7-5.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Connor Manco led the Royals offense with a 3-for-5 evening, including three RBIs. The three-hit performance marked a single-game career-high for the Fort Mill native as he has recorded a hit in the last three games.
-JD Coleman and Andrew McDermott posted 1-for-3 performances with a pair of walks. Coleman has recorded a hit in four straight games while McDermott has reached successfully in three consecutive contests.
-Veteran Nick Brassington blasted his third home run of the season, and second in as many games.
-Riley Cheek, Tyler Cotto, and Tyler Peters each added a hit on the night.
-Royals starter Jeffery Maidhof matched his season-high with 6.0 innings pitched. The senior allowed five runs, but only three were earned while striking out three Bears.
-The loss dropped the Royals to 0-12 on the road this season.

NEXT UP
The Royals and Bears will wrap up the weekend series on Sunday, April 2^nd. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN Plus.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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