FIRST PITCH
Score: Eastern Kentucky 11 | Queens 6
Records: Eastern Kentucky (25-24 overall, 13-11 ASUN) | Queens (12-35 overall, 6-18 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped game three of the weekend series with Eastern Kentucky by a final score of 11-6.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

-Queens struck first in the bottom of the third as Riley Cheek belted a no-doubt two-out solo home run to left field. The blast gave the Royals their first lead of the weekend.

-The early lead would evaporate quickly as the Colonels grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Miguel Larreal opened the frame with a single before Will King blasted a two-run home run to right center.

-The visitors would extend their lead in the fifth with two runs on no hits. The Colonels worked four free passes, including two hit-by-pitches, and used timely hits to grow their lead to 4-1.

-The Royals would get a run back in the bottom half of the fifth capitalizing on a Colonels error. Nick Melton smoked a one-out single through the right side before Zach Weston worked a walk. Riley Cheek would place a grounder in the hole which was misplayed by the Colonels shortstop allowing Melton to score.

-Eastern Kentucky would strike for three runs on two hits in the top of the seventh. All of their damage came with two outs as they extended their lead to 7-2.

-Queens would immediately answer with a four spot in the bottom half of the seventh. Following two quick outs, Zach Weston would single to right field before Riley Cheek walked. Connor Manco stepped in and blasted his fourth home run of the season with a three-run shot to right field. JJ Sousa would follow it up with a double down the right field line before Nick Brassington singled down the left field line for an RBI.

-EKU would respond in the next half inning with four runs on two hits and five Queens walks to extend their lead to 11-6.

BY THE NUMBERS
-JJ Sousa led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including a double. The multi-hit performance was Sousa's 13^th of the season as he increased his season average to .317 over the weekend.

-Connor Manco blasted his fourth home run with a three-run shot to right field.

-Zach Weston extended his hitting streak to seven games with a 1-for-4 day. The senior has reached safely in 10 straight games.

-Senior Riley Cheek belted his team-best 10^th home run increasing his RBI total to 35 this season. The Shelby native is hitting .352 on the season after the weekend.

-Veterans Nick Brassington, Christian Maggio, and Nick Melton added a hit on the day.

-Royals starter Zach Kelly tossed 5.0 innings and surrendered two hits, four runs, three walks, and struck out six. Kelly has recorded six strikeouts in back-to-back outings.

-The Royals pitching staff surrendered 12 walks which the Colonels capitalized on with six runs. The 12 walks were the third most in a single game in program history.

-The weekend sweep marked the fourth league series in which the Royals went winless.

NEXT UP
The Royals will begin a five-game road stand on Tuesday, May 9^th when they make the short drive to Winthrop. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Rock Hill. Queens will return to ASUN play next weekend at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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