FIRST PITCH
Score: Samford 12 | Queens 1
Records: Samford (2-0 overall) | Queens (0-2 overall)
Location: Birmingham, Ala. (Jon Lee Griffin Field)
 
The Short Story: Despite a solo blast from senior JJ Sousa, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team fell in their second game of the 2024 season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-After two scoreless innings, the Bulldogs adjusted at the plate in the third inning and found their groove. A hit-by-pitch and a single put runners on first and second with one out before Lucas Steele belted a three-run homer over the right field fence.
-The Royals would respond immediately in the top of the fourth inning. Left-handed hitter JJ Sousa would smash a one-out solo home run to trim the Bulldog lead to 3-1.
-Samford would add a run back in the bottom half of the fourth as third basemen Garrett Staton laced a one-out RBI triple into right field.
-After putting the Royals down in order, the Samford offense exploded for seven runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs for the Bulldogs. Pitching miscues by Queens would push across two runs before a sacrifice fly plated the third run of the inning. The Bulldogs would then manufacture two-out offense with a pair of singles and a passed ball pushing across four more runs to extend their lead to 11-1.
-In the sixth inning, the Bulldogs got two runners in scoring position before a sacrifice fly pushed across their 12th run of the game.
-Nick Alderfer would pinch hit in the seventh inning and reach base via an infield single before the Bulldogs closed out the evening with a double play.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Senior JJ Sousa led the Royals offensive attack with a 1-for-3 day, which included a solo blast in the fourth inning. The home run was his fifth as a Royal as the senior is looking to build on his stellar play in 2023.
-Nick Alderfer rounded out the offense with his first hit of the new season in the seventh inning.
-Jake Barbour and Matthew Corlew reached base safely for the second consecutive game via walks.
-The Royals bats are still looking to get on track early in the year as the visitors had two hits, two walks, and went down on strikes nine times.
-On the mound, Queens issued 10 free passes, nine hits, and only managed two strikeouts on the day.
-Freshman Derek Westfall made his first career start on the bump for Queens and allowed four runs while striking out two batters across 4.0 complete innings.
 
NEXT UP
Queens and Samford will return to action tomorrow afternoon for the finale of the three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the baseball program on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with Queens Baseball throughout the offseason. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics, to stay up to date with all of the Royals' Athletics.