FIRST PITCH
Score: Niagara 17 | Queens 8
Records: Niagara (5-2 overall) | Queens (2-5 overall)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields)
 
The Short Story: Senior Matthew Corlew became the first player in program history to hit for the cycle, but the Royals dropped the series finale on Sunday afternoon, 17-8.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Niagara struck first capitalizing on five free passes by Royals starter Andrew White. The Purple Eagles plated four runs on one hit and one Queens error.
-Queens returned the favor in the bottom of the first inning, plating two runs on four hits. JJ Sousa sent a one-out single into left field before Dillon Lewis singled to right field which sent Sousa to third. On the play, Lewis was thrown out at second base trying to stretch out a double. With two outs, senior Tyler Cotto ripped a double into the left-center gap which brought home Sousa for the first Royals run. Zach Weston followed it up wasting no time jumping on the first pitch he saw and delivering an RBI single bringing home Cotto.
-The Royals tacked on three more runs behind three clutch swings to regain a 5-4 lead. Matthew Corlew roped a one-out double before Tyler Peters delivered an RBI single to left field. Rookie Jake Barbour would step in and belt a two-run homer to right field for his second homer in as many days.
-Niagara erupted in the top of the third inning plating seven runs on eight hits and one Royals error to recapture an 11-5 lead.
-The Purple Eagles added on in the top of the fourth inning with three runs on four hits. Nick Groves and Kelly Corl worked a pair of one-out singles before an infield groundout put runners in scoring position with two down. Gavin Schrader would step in and send a two-run single into left-center before Matt Ward capped the scoring with an RBI double to left center giving the visitors a 14-5 lead.
-Queens would cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning as Matthew Corlew greeted the new Purple Eagles arm with a 465-foot blast to left center for his first homer of the season.
-The fifth inning saw both offenses exchange a run as Nick Groves reached on a fielder's choice bringing home a run. Queens would return the favor in the bottom of the inning as Zach Weston recorded a sacrifice fly following a leadoff double from Dillon Lewis.
-Niagara would add to the lead in the eighth with two runs on three hits, including a solo home run from Nick Groves.
-Queens would get the run back in the bottom of the eighth as Matthew Corlew led off with a triple which completed the first-ever cycle in program history. Following a strikeout, Jake Barbour would bring Corlew in with a sacrifice fly to round of the scoring for the day.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Senior Matthew Corlew notched the first-ever cycle in program history with a perfect 4-for-4 day. The centerfielder scored three runs and recorded three putouts in center field.
-Dillon Lewis went 2-for-5 on the afternoon, including one of the Royals three extra-base hits with a leadoff double. Lewis is rounding into form as he leads the team with a .333 batting average across seven contests.
-Leadoff hitter Jake Barbour belted his second home run of the series as he finished the day 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Defensively, Barbour remained clean with three putouts and three assists.
-Zach Weston extended his hitting streak to three straight games with a 1-for-3 afternoon. Weston has reached safely in five of the Royals seven games this season.
-Four other Royals, including JJ Sousa, Tyler Cotto, Nick Alderfer, and Tyler Peters recorded a hit on the day as the team totaled 12 hits.
-The 22 hits from the Purple Eagles were the most by a Royals opponent this season, and the second most in a single game in program history.
-Niagara took advantage offensively in critical situations hitting .429 with two outs and .417 with runners in scoring position.
 
NEXT UP
Queens will return to action this upcoming week with five games in seven days. The Royals will open the week on Tuesday, February 27^th when they welcome Winthrop for a 5:00 p.m. first pitch. Queens will then hit the road for a showdown in Raleigh with nationally ranked N.C. State on Wednesday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Queens will close out the busy week with a three-game homestand against Lehigh University on Friday night.
 
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.