FIRST PITCH
Score: #15 FGCU 12 | Queens 1
Records: FGCU (26-6 overall, 10-2 ASUN) | Queens (6-25 overall, 2-10 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story: Riley Cheek and JJ Sousa record multi-hit performances as the Royals fall to #15 Florida Gulf Coast in the series finale on Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-FGCU would strike first as they manufactured a run in the top of the third inning. Brian Ellis opened the frame with a walk, reached second on an infield groundout, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Joe Kinker would plate Ellis with a sacrifice fly to center field to get on the board 1-0.

-The visiting Eagles would erupt in the fifth inning with six runs on seven hits. FGCU laced a pair of doubles to bring around five runs.

-Queens would answer in the bottom half of the inning with a run on two hits and one FGCU error. Tyler Peters would open the inning with a walk before JJ Sousa singled into right field. Following consecutive strikeouts, Riley Cheek would single into center field and Peters would score as the center fielder mishandled the ball.

-FGCU would extend their lead to 8-1 in the top of the sixth behind two timely hits. Alejandro Rodriguez laced a one-out double into center field putting runners on second and third. Both Eagles would advance up on a wild pitch to plate the inning's only run.

-The Eagles would tack on four runs on six hits in the top of the eighth inning to open the lead up to 12-1.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Riley Cheek led the Royals offense with a 2-for-4 evening. The senior has now recorded 14 multi-hit performances this season.

-JJ Sousa would turn in a 2-for-4 night as he increased his season average to .306. Sousa is riding a hot bat as he has a hit in four consecutive games.

-Connor Manco and Nick Melton rounded out the offense with a base hit each. Manco finished the series going 5-for-11 as he is on a seven-game hitting streak. Melton has found a groove at the plate recording a hit in three of the last four outings.

-Despite getting a base runner on in 6-of-8 innings, the Royals struggled with runners in scoring position going 1-for-10.

-Since scoring four runs in the first inning of game two, the Royals offense was held to two runs over the final 16.0 innings.

NEXT UP
The Royals will head to Chapel Hill on Tuesday, April 11^th for a contest with #13 North Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on the ACC Network. The game will be the Royals sixth matchup with a D1 Baseball Top 25 program this season. Queens will continue ASUN play next weekend as they travel to Clarksville, Tennessee for a three-game series with Austin Peay.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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