FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 6 | FGCU 4
Records: Queens (7-19 overall, 3-5 ASUN) | FGCU (11-14 overall, 4-4 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields)
 
The Short Story: Behind a season-high eight innings from starting pitcher Carson Magill, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team clinched their first ASUN weekend series with a 6-4 victory over Florida Gulf Coast.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-For the second straight game, the Royals jumped on the visiting Eagles in the first inning. Dillon Lewis led off the frame with a single to center field before swiping second. Tyler Cotto worked a 3-2 walk which was followed up by a Matthew Corlew fielder's choice. With runners on the corners and two outs, junior Will Budnick sent a clutch RBI single into right field to bring home Lewis for the early 1-0 lead.
-FGCU responded immediately in the top of the second as Robert Moya belted a solo home run to center field.
-Queens would add on to their lead with a two-run fourth inning. Tyler Cotto led off the inning with a walk before Matthew Corlew and Will Budnick roped consecutive singles. Tyler Cotto managed to score on the Budnick single. A Keansu Spenser hit by pitch loaded the bases before Mason Kelly sent a sacrifice fly into center field to bring home the second run of the frame.
-The Eagles answered immediately as Mac Moise belted a 1-0 pitch over the center field fence to cut into the deficit 3-2.
-In the top of the fifth inning, FGCU loaded the bases with one out as they threatened to do damage. However, Carson Magill worked a clutch 5-4-3 double play to escape the jam and keep the 3-2 lead.
-Queens added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Dillon Lewis reached on a fielder's choice. The Royals exchanged an out for a run to extend the lead to 4-2.
-FGCU broke through in the top of the eighth inning behind a two-run blast from Robert Moya. The home run was his second of the day to tie the game 4-4.
-Queens answered in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of runs behind two timely barrels. With the bases loaded and one out, freshman Jake Barbour sent a deep sacrifice fly to center field to give the Royals a 5-4 lead. On the very next pitch, Dillon Lewis laced an RBI single through the left side to add a key insurance run.
-Veteran reliever Joseph Rodriguez came on in relief in the top of the ninth inning and worked a scoreless frame to clinch the series.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Freshman right-hander Carson Magill was sensational in his fifth collegiate start. The New Jersey native hurled a season-high 8.0 innings while allowing just four runs on six hits and striking out a season-high five batters.
-Dillon Lewis extended his on-base streak to 11 straight games with a 2-for-5 afternoon. The Charlotte native drove in two key runs for the Royals as he is hitting a team-high .362 on the year.
-Junior Will Budnick put together a solid day at the dish going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. The first baseman drove in his 13^th and 14^th RBIs on the day.
-Matthew Corlew, Keanu Spenser, and Tyler Peters rounded out the offense with a hit each. Corlew is riding a three-game hitting streak while Peters has a hit in 10 of the last 13 games.
-Tyler Cotto picked up a pair of walks on the day increasing his season total to 21. The Goodyear, Arizona native ranks top five in the conference in walks this season.
-Queens turned in another clean defensive performance in the field. The Royals are now 4-1 on the year when playing error-free baseball.
-The Royals executed flawlessly when runners were on third and less than two outs. Queens went 3-for-4 to pick up key RBIs in big moments.
 
NEXT UP
Queens and FGCU will wrap up the three-game series tomorrow, March 30^th at The Stick. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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