FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 11 | Central Arkansas 4
Records: Queens (6-22 overall, 2-7 ASUN) | Central Arkansas (13-15 overall, 5-4 ASUN)
Location: Conway, Ark. (Bear Stadium)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team scatters a season-high _ hits as they take down Central Arkansas on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Queens struck first in the top of the first inning with a run on one hit. Riley Cheek worked a one-out walk before Nick Brassington singled through the right side which put runners on the corners. Connor Manco would rip an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to plate the games first run.

-The Royals would erupt in the second inning with five runs on five hits and a UCA error. Following a Tyler Peters one-out walk, JJ Sousa and Nick Melton ripped back-to-back singles to load the bases. Andrew McDermott and Riley Cheek would chip in with consecutive RBI singles. Nick Brassington would reach on a fielder's choice and Connor Manco followed it up with an RBI single up the middle. JD Coleman would reach after being hit by a pitch that loaded the bases and Christian Maggio would reach on an error that capped off the scoring run.

-Queens would extend their lead to 8-0 in the third inning. JJ Sousa led off the inning with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a failed pick off attempt. Riley Cheek would bring Sousa in with an RBI single through the left side. After Cheek swiped second, Nick Brassington brought him home with an RBI single through the left side.

-Central Arkansas would respond in the bottom of the third, fourth, and fifth innings with four runs on six hits and a Royals error.

-The Royals would extend their lead to 10-4 in the eighth inning as Dillon Lewis delivered a pinch hit two-run home run to left field.

-Queens added a run in the ninth after JJ Sousa opened the inning with a double to left field. Nick Melton would advance Sousa to advance on a bunt single. After a fielder's choice, Riley Cheek would line out to center field and bring Sousa in for an RBI.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Senior Zach Kelly tossed a season-high 6.0 innings and surrendered three earned runs while striking out two Bears.

-Nick Brassington led the offense with a 4-for-6 afternoon, including two RBIs. The graduate student extended his hitting streak to five straight games.

-Christian Maggio and JJ Sousa both turned in 3-for-5 games.

-Riley Cheek, Connor Manco, and Nick Melton also added a multi-hit performance. Cheek drove in three Royals while Manco added two RBIs.

-Andrew McDermott and Dillon Lewis rounded out the offense with a hit. Lewis blasted his fifth home run of the season with a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning.

-Key Yamagishi would close out the afternoon with a dominant 3.0 scoreless innings of relief. The senior surrendered a pair of hits while striking out two Bears.

-The 18-hit output from the Royals marked a season-high and the 11^th game this season that they surpassed 10 hits in a game.

-The Royals improved to 5-2 on the year when scoring 10+ runs in a game.

NEXT UP
The Royals will return to Charlotte as they prepare to welcome nationally ranked Florida Gulf Coast next weekend for an ASUN series. The action will get underway on Thursday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m. from the Richard "Stick" William Dream Fields.
 
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.