FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 14 | Stetson 13
Records: Queens (17-37 overall, 9-20 ASUN) | Stetson (32-22 overall, 19-10 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story: With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, senior Riley Cheek delivered a three-run walk-off home run to storm past the Stetson Hatters in game two of the weekend series.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

-Queens jolted ahead of the Hatters with an impressive six-run first inning. Tyler Peters led off the inning with a single to right field before Riley Cheek worked a walk. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners and JJ Sousa capitalized with an RBI single to left field. Nick Brassington and Zach Weston would follow it up with consecutive singles extending the lead to 2-0. With the bases loaded, Andrew McDermott and Nick Melton worked consecutive RBI walks forcing a Hatters pitching change. Sam Hunter greeted the new arm with an RBI single to left field bringing home the fifth run of the inning. A wild pitch would score McDermott capping off the six-run inning.

-Following three scoreless frames, the Royals would add a run in the bottom of the fifth on two hits and a Hatters error. Nick Brassington opened the inning with a double to left center before Zach Weston advanced him over with a sacrifice bunt. Andrew McDermott would bring across the run with a single while advancing to third on an error by the Hatters right fielder.

-Stetson would cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth inning with three runs on four hits, including a pair of home runs.

-The Royals would respond in the bottom of the sixth inning with a run as Tyler Peters scored on a wild pitch.

-Stetson would get back into the game in the top of the seventh with five runs on six hits. The visitors laced three doubles in the scoring frame.

-The Hatters would extend their lead to 11-8 with three runs, including a two-run home run in the top of the eighth.

-The Royals would respond in the bottom of the eighth capitalizing on three free passes. JJ Sousa made the visitors pay with a two-out single into right field which scored a pair cutting the deficit to 11-10.

-Stetson added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth with a two-run home run from Andrew Estrella.

-The cardiac Royals were not done yet as Zach Weston and Andrew McDermott smoked back-to-back doubles down the right-field line to plate a run in the bottom of the ninth. The Hatters would turn to their closer looking to escape the jam. Sam Hunter worked a one-out walk before Tyler Peters went down swinging for the second out. In a 1-2 count, senior Riley Cheek stepped in and belted a three-run home run to left field sending the Royals home victorious.

BY THE NUMBERS
-JJ Sousa recorded his 17^th multi-hit game with a 3-for-5 evening, including three RBIs.

-Andrew McDermott extended his hitting streak to four straight games going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. The sophomore has reached safely in five straight games.

-Tyler Peters turned in his 12^th multi-hit performance with a 2-for-5 night, including three runs scored.

-Senior Nick Brassington also added a two-hit night, including a double.

-Zach Weston notched a two-hit performance, including a key RBI double in the bottom of the ninth.

-Riley Cheek turned in the swing of the night with a walk-off three-run shot to left field. The home run was Cheek's team-leading 12^th this season and 25^th of his career.

-Rookie Sam Hunter had an efficient night offensively going 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

-Senior Jeffery Maidhof turned in a solid start in his final outing. Maidhof tossed 6.0 innings surrendering five runs on eight hits while striking out five Hatters.

-The Royals improved to 9-3 this season when scoring 10 or more runs in a single game.

-Queens has won four games this season in walk-off fashion.

NEXT UP
The Royals and Hatters wrap up the regular season tomorrow, May 20^th at 1:00 p.m. from The Stick. Prior to the game, the Royals will honor their 2023 senior class beginning at 12:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN Plus beginning at 1:00 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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