FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 6 | Niagara 1
Records: Queens (1-4 overall) | Niagara (4-1 overall)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields)
 
The Short Story: Behind 8.0 innings of stellar pitching from Landry Jurecka, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team picked up their first win of the 2024 season on Friday night defeating Niagara 6-1 at The Stick. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Purple Eagles got the scoring started early as they would push across a run in the top half of the first on an RBI single from Eric Rataczak after a leadoff double.
-Queens would respond in the second inning with two runs as a Zach Weston one-out double and then two walks loaded the bases for the Royals. Shortstop Tyler Peters came through with a timely two-out hit slapping a two-run single into right field.
-After the Royals put the Purple Eagles down in order in the second, JJ Sousa led off the third inning with a solo blast to right field for his third of the year. Later in the inning, Tyler Cotto chopped a single through the right side to bring home Zach Weston extending the Royals lead to 4-1.
-In the sixth inning, the Royals took advantage of miscues by the Golden Eagles as they loaded the bases on a fielding error and two walks. Dillon Lewis would push two runs across for the Royals with a single extending the Royals lead to a commanding 6-1 heading into the final three frames.
-Queens would continue to threaten in the seventh and eighth innings getting runners into scoring position, however, they would fail to extend their five-run lead.
-Freshman Carson Magill closed the game out in the ninth inning following eight innings of impressive work from Landry Jurecka. Magill surrendered a hit and hit-by-pitch, but escaped unscathed helping the Royals secure their first win of the season.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Kansas State transfer Landry Jurecka was immaculate for the Royals. In his second start of the season, Jurecka pitched 8.0 innings allowing just four hits while striking out nine batters on 103 pitches. Jurecka would retire 20 of the last 21 batters he would face after giving up an early run in the first inning.
-Zach Weston led the Royals offensive attack with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. The graduate student smacked a pair of doubles and earned a walk. The third baseman was also effective defending the hot corner totaling five assists.
-JJ Sousa continued to be the Royals leading slugger as the senior belted his third homerun of the year over the right field fence.
-Dillon Lewis, Tyler Cotto, and Tyler Peters recorded clutch hits on the evening for the Royals which brought across runs for the Royals.
-The Royals pitching staff which allowed 44 walks across four games coming into Friday night, combined to allow zero walks on the evening.
-The Queens defense was much improved Friday evening as they played a clean game in the field committing zero errors.
-Queens will look to cut down on the strikeouts after being fanned 15 times Friday evening.
 
NEXT UP
Queens and Niagara will return to The Stick for game two of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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