FIRST PITCH
Score: #21 South Carolina 13 | Queens 3
Records: #21 South Carolina (5-0 overall) | Queens (0-4 overall)
Location: Columbia, S.C. (Founders Park)

SHORT STORY: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team belted three solo home runs against the 21st-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in a 13-3 loss on Wednesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Royals threatened early as Dillon Lewis hit a two-out double down the left field line in the first inning followed by a hit-by pitch for Matthew Corlew. Queens could not convert, however, as the Gamecocks picked up a strikeout to end the inning.
• Making his first start of the season, southpaw Joey Ruller began his outing with a three-pitch strikeout on Blake Jackson. However, the Gamecocks took advantage of Ruller after an infield single and a walk was followed by a three-run homer to give South Carolina a 3-0 lead. Ruller would collect another strikeout before a walk, hit by pitch, and an infield single loaded the bases.
• Ruller had to exit the game after the single as he was struck by the line drive. Freshman Jack Renaud entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs to make his collegiate debut on the mound. Renaud allowed a bases-loaded walk before forcing a ground out to end the inning with the Royals down 4-0.
• The Royals once again threatened in the top of the second inning with a single from Nick Alderfer and a walk from Tyler Cotto. However, Queens would keep both runners stranded to end the inning.
• After a strong outing from Renaud, Joseph Rodriguez entered the game in the bottom of the fourth and immediately allowed two baserunners on a walk and single before he got Cole Messina to strike out swinging for the crucial first out of the inning. However, the Gamecocks would break out for a big inning plating five runs on four hits and capitalizing on three errors by the Royals.
• In the top of the fifth, JJ Sousa connected on the first pitch of the fifth inning for a solo home run over the right-field wall to get Queens on the board. In the bottom of the fifth, Logan Schmitt came in to pitch for the Royals and allowed a solo shot to Ethan Petry, but picked up his first collegiate strikeout in the frame.
• Tyler Cotto would cut into the Gamecocks lead with a one-out solo blast to left field. The home run was Cotto's first career long ball as a member of the Royals.
• Just two innings later, Connor Manco ripped a solo shot into right field cutting the lead to 10-3 as the Royals hung around. The homer was Manco's second on the season.
• The nationally ranked Gamecocks would close out the evening with three runs in the bottom of the eight as they capitalized on five free passes.

 
BY THE NUMBERS

• In his collegiate debut, Jack Renaud pitched well as he went 2.1 innings with only one hit and two walks allowed. Renaud also added two strikeouts which included the first of his career.
• Tyler Cotto finished the evening 2-for-2 with a walk as he improved his season average to .300.
• JJ Sousa and Dillon Lewis also recorded a pair of hits on the afternoon. Sousa has recorded a hit in three straight games to open the season.
• Both Jacob Grimes and Matthew Suppa made their collegiate debuts off the bench in this game. Grimes was a defensive replacement in center field for Matthew Corlew and Suppa was a defensive replacement for Tyler Cotto behind home plate.
• The Royals offense was fanned 17 times by the impressive South Carolina pitching staff. The 17 strikeouts were the most in a single game for Queens in Division 1.

• Queens had several opportunities to produce crooked number innings but ultimately fell short as they went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The Royals managed to get the leadoff batter on 50 percent of the time applying pressure early.
• The Royals pitching staff fanned 10 Gamecocks on the evening marking the first double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
• On the flip side, Queens surrendered a single-game program record 15 walks.

 
NEXT UP
The Royals will come home for their first home series of the season as they welcome Niagara University between Friday and Sunday at The Stick Williams Dream Field. Niagara had a strong opening weekend as they took four games from Richmond and will hold a 4-0 record coming into the weekend series. Friday will also be the first-ever matchup between the Royals and Purple Eagles as the first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and available as an audio-only broadcast.

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.