CHARLOTTE, NC. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team is set for their 2024 home opener as they host Niagara for a three-game series this weekend. The first pitch is scheduled for Friday, February 23rd at 5:00 p.m. from the Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The weekend series will mark the first all-time meeting between Queens and Niagara.
 
QUEENS ROYALS (0-4 overall, 0-0 ASUN)

• Queens is coming off a 13-3 loss at 21^st ranked South Carolina on Wednesday night. JJ Sousa, Tyler Cotto, and Connor Manco each had solo blasts for the Royals. Freshman reliever Jack Renaud make his first collegiate appearance against the Gamecocks and tossed 2.1 innings allowing just one hit and striking out two.
• The Royals return home after a four-game road swing to the start year. Queens opened the season at 2023 regional qualifier Samford and suffered a sweep.
• Lefty JJ Sousa has put together a solid start to the year hitting .308 with two home runs through the first four games.
• Designated hitter Connor Manco has taken full advantage of his opportunities at the plate belting a pair of home runs on the young season as the slugger boasts a 1.000 slugging percentage.
• Tyler Cotto and Will Budnick round out the Royals slugging efforts with each having a blast in the first four contests for the Royals. Cotto is coming off a 2-for-2 performance at South Carolina for his first multi-hit game since March 25, 2023.
• The Royals will look to improve in the field as they have totaled 11 errors across their first four games, including five against South Carolina.
• On the bump, free passes have plagued the Royals as they are averaging 13.5 per game. Queens is coming off a game in which they issued 15 walks to the Gamecocks marking a single game program record.

 
NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES (4-0 overall, 0-0 MAAC)

• Niagara started their season scorching hot with a four-game series sweep on the road against Richmond. The Purple Eagles outscored the Spiders 36-12 across the four games as Niagara began their season with a perfect 4-0 record.
• Redshirt junior Eric Rataczak is off to a scorching start for the Purple Eagles. The Circle Pines, Minnesota native has five hits, a home run, and eight total bases in the opening weekend series.
• Senior infielder Brady Desjardians reached base in all four games last weekend, including his opening day two-run double.
• The Purple Eagle offense was on fire all weekend as they collectively hit for a .313 average and had an on-base percentage of .419 across the four game series. Four different Purple Eagles totaled five hits on the weekend.
• Maximilian Ramirez IV is in life to be on the bump again to open the weekend for the Purple Eagles. In his first start of the year, he mailed in a quality start going six innings allowing just two hits, walking five batters, and striking out four.
• Zach Cameron is a stabilizing force out of the bullpen for Niagara as he totaled three saves on opening weekend. The MAAC Pitcher of the Week hurled a total of 4.0 innings across his three apparences and allowed no runs, only two hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.
• Rob McCoy is in his 16^th season as head coach of the Purple Eagles as he is the winningest coach in the programs history. In his sixteen years at the helm, McCoy has had six players drafted, including including Seattle Mariner relief pitcher Matt Brash.

 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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