FIRST PITCH
Score: Samford 16 | Queens 6
Records: Samford (3-0 overall) | Queens (0-3 overall)
Location: Birmingham, Ala. (Jon Lee Griffin Field)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team issued 14 free passes in the series finale at Samford as they fell 16-6 on Sunday afternoon. Will Budnick sparked the Royals offense with a 2-for-4 afternoon, including his first home run of the season in the sixth inning.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Royals threatened early as Dillon Lewis worked a one-out walk in the top of the first inning. JJ Sousa followed it up lacing a shot to deep center field which was brought back into the yard by the Bulldogs outfielder. Lewis would advance to second on a wild pitch before swiping third base. The Bulldogs would escape the early jam with a strikeout to end the inning.
-Samford would cash in with two runs in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of three walks, two passed balls, and a wild pitch.
-Queens would answer in the top of the second inning plating three runs on three hits and one Bulldogs error. Zach Weston got the offense going with a leadoff double to right center before Nick Alderfer laced a single through the left side putting runners on the corners. Will Budnick followed it up with an RBI single to left center plating the first run of the game for the Royals. A wild pitch advanced both runners up 90 feet before Tyler Cotto walked to load the bases with no outs. The Bulldogs would get a strikeout, but a Jake Barbour hit by pitch brought across the tying run. Samford would go to the bullpen early looking to hold the Royals at bay. Dillon Lewis would reach on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by the Bulldogs third baseman allowed Will Budnick to score and avoid the double play.
-Samford managed to capitalize in the bottom of the fourth inning on three free passes to start the frame before John Anderson jumped on a first-pitch fastball sending it out to left center for a grand slam and the 6-3 lead. The home run was the first hit of the game for the Bulldogs.
-The Bulldogs erupted in the bottom of the fourth plating six runs on three hits, four free passes, and one Royals error.
-Trailing 12-4 in the sixth, the Royals plated a pair on two hits to cut into the deficit. Will Budnick greeted the new arm with a solo homer to right field to start the inning. Tyler Cotto worked a walk before Mason Kelly ripped a single to left field for his first hit as a Royal. Jake Barbour would reach on a fielder's choice placing runners on the corners before a wild pitch advanced both as Cotto scored.
-After Royals reliever Joseph Rodriguez worked two quick flyouts in the bottom of the seventh, Lucas Steele stepped in and blasted a solo home run to right field extending the Bulldogs lead to 13-6.
-Samford would close out the game early for the third straight game with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Angelo Prieto opened the inning with a solo blast to left center before a pair of walks and a wild pitch put runners in scoring position. Samford got a sacrifice fly to plate the second run before a strikeout and wild pitch brought home the final run of the day.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Junior first baseman Will Budnick led the Royals with a 2-for-4 afternoon, including his first home run of the season. The multi-hit performance marked the Charlotte native's sixth of his career.
-Senior Zach Weston went 1-for-4 on the day, including a double to kickstart the scoring in the second inning. The Charlotte native has 21 career extra-base hits as a Royal.
-Freshman Jake Barbour made his way on base twice, including his first collegiate hit in the top of the fifth inning. The rookie reached base in every game in his first collegiate series.
-Veteran outfielders Dillon Lewis and JJ Sousa added a hit and an RBI on the day. Sousa managed to crack a hit in the final two games of the weekend series.
-Nick Alderfer and Mason Kelly rounded out the offense with a base hit each.
-Despite pitching struggles all weekend, senior right-hander Joseph Rodriguez twirled 3.2 solid innings surrendering two earned runs and striking out three Bulldogs.
-Free passes plagued the Royals as Queens issued 12 walks and two hit-by-pitches. The 12 walks tied for the third most in a single game in program history. On the weekend, Queens surrendered 38 free passes across three games.
 
NEXT UP
Queens will head to Columbia on Wednesday, February 21^st for a midweek showdown with #25 South Carolina. The Royals and Gamecocks met last season in Columbia and South Carolina took the first meeting 12-0. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network and fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Queens Athletics website.
 
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.