FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 8 | Winthrop 7
Records: Queens (13-35 overall, 6-18 ASUN) | Winthrop (24-23 overall, 12-9 BIG SOUTH)
Location: Rock Hill, S.C. (The Winthrop Ballpark)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team used a late offensive explosion to storm past the Winthrop Eagles in extra innings on Tuesday night.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

-Winthrop would crack the scoring column first with a solo home run from Brody Hopkins to lead off the bottom of the first.

-The Eagles would extend their lead to 4-0 in the second inning with three runs on two hits, two walks, and a Royals error.

-Queens responded in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs on two hits. Zach Weston worked a one-out walk before Riley Cheek would reach on an infield single. JJ Sousa would wear a two-out hit by pitch before Nick Brassington sent a two-RBI single into center field.

-Winthrop added a pair in the bottom of the fifth on two hits and another Royals error. With runners on first and second and one out, Ramses Cordova singled to right field for an RBI and advanced to second on an error by the Royals outfield. Nate Chronis would follow it up with a sacrifice to the pitcher bringing home the second run of the inning.

-As they have done all season, the Royals responded in the next half inning as Tyler Peters got it started with a single and advanced to second on an error. Christian Maggio would follow it up with a single to right field before a sacrifice fly from Nick Melton cut the deficit to 6-3.

-The Eagles responded in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out solo home run to left field from Jonathan Strauss.

-For the third time in the game, the Royals would come in and immediately respond with a pair of runs. JJ Sousa would rip a one-out single to right field before Nick Brassington smoked an RBI double to left center. JD Coleman would follow it up with an RBI single to center field bringing Brassington around to score.

-Trailing 7-5 heading into the top of the ninth, the Royals would fight back and plate two runs to tie the game. JJ Sousa would lead off the inning with a walk before Nick Brassington reached on an error. Sam Hunter would pinch hit and get hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Tyler Peters worked a walk for an RBI before Christian Maggio sent a sacrifice fly into left field for an RBI which tied the game 7-7.

-Junior Connor Manco had the swing of the night in the top of the 10^th with a one-out solo home run to right field. The solo blast proved to be the difference as the Royals shut the Eagles down in the 10^th.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Tyler Peters led the offense with a 3-for-4 evening, including his ninth extra-base hit of the season. The three-hit performance tied a career-high as Peters has recorded 11 multi-hit games this season.

-Senior Nick Brassington turned in a 2-for-5 night, including three runs batted in. The Raleigh native has been hot at the plate recently as he has reached safely in 9-of-the-last-10 games.

-JJ Sousa continued his hot stretch at the plate going 2-for-4 as he has reached safely in 9-of-the-last 10 games.

-Riley Cheek, Connor Manco, JD Coleman, and Christian Maggio added a hit on the evening. The home run from Manco was the fifth of the year for the junior.

-Zach Weston extended his on-base streak to 11 straight games with a pair of walks.

-Senior Daniel Bagwell was incredible out of the bullpen picking up his second win of the season. The Kings Mountain native hurled 7.0 innings surrendering eight hits, one earned run, and struck out five Eagles.

-The extra-inning affair marked the fifth of the season for the Royals. Queens improved to 2-3 on the year in those games, and 8-7 all-time in extra innings.

NEXT UP
The Royals will continue their final road stretch this weekend as they travel to Louisville, Kentucky for a battle at Bellarmine. The series gets underway on Friday, May 12^th at 2:00 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcasted on the BU Sports Network.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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