FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 19 | Eastern Kentucky 7
Records: Queens (9-24 overall, 5-8 ASUN) | EKU (9-24 overall, 6-7 ASUN)
Location: Richmond, Ky. (Earle Combs Stadium)
 
The Short Story: Behind six multi-hit performances and four home runs, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team blasted Eastern Kentucky in game one of the weekend series on Friday night. Andrew McDermott led the offensive surge with his first career multi-home run game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens wasted no time jumping on the Colonels with two runs on four hits in the first inning. Dillon Lewis opened the inning with a single but was cut down at second trying to steal. The early out was pushed to the side as Jake Barbour followed it up with a single to left field. Senior Tyler Cotto stayed hot at the dish with an RBI double to right center to plate the first run of the game. JJ Sousa followed it up with a single to right field to put runners on the corners before a fielder's choice brought home the second run of the inning.
-After keeping the Colonels off the board in the first, the visiting Royals erupted in the second with seven runs on four hits and one EKU error. After Tyler Peters worked a one-out walk, junior Andrew McDermott belted his second home run of the season to right center to extend the Royals lead to 4-0. Dillon Lewis followed it up with a double to left field before Jake Barbour worked a six-pitch walk. The Colonels would turn to their bullpen which was greeted by a first-pitch RBI single through the left side by Tyler Cotto to bring home another run. JJ Sousa worked a walk to load the bases and Matthew Corlew made his former team pay with a two-run single to center field. Corlew managed to swipe second base before a pitch hit Will Budnick to load the bases again. With two outs, Tyler Peters reached on a fielding error to bring home another run and cap off a seven-run inning.
-The bats stayed hot early as Queens added five more runs in the top of the third. Andrew McDermott, JJ Sousa, and Will Budnick blasted home runs in the inning to extend the Queens lead to 14-0.
-Eastern Kentucky found their way into the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth following a two-run home run from Santiago Peralta.
-Queens added two more runs in the fifth with timely swings. Jake Barbour led off the inning with a single before Tyler Cotto worked a walk. JJ Sousa made the Colonels pay with an RBI single to right field to bring Barbour home. Following an infield ground out to advance both runners, Will Budnick brought home the second run with an infield groundout. The Colonels would answer with a three spot in the bottom half to cut the deficit to 16-5.
-The Royals answered the EKU scoring run with a three spot in the sixth inning. The Royals loaded the bases before JJ Sousa brought home a run on a sacrifice fly. A passed ball advanced both runners and Matthew Corlew delivered again with a two-run single through the right side to extend the lead to 19-5.
-Following a 30-minute lightning delay, the teams took the field in the bottom of the seventh. The Colonels would plate two runs in the inning, but Royals reliever Blake Efird induced a pop-up down the left-field line to wrap up the series opener.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Andrew McDermott sparked the offense with a 2-for-4 day, including two home runs and three RBIs.
-Making his return to his former school, Matthew Corlew punished the Colonels with a 2-for-4 day, including five RBIs.
-JJ Sousa returned to the starting lineup for the first time since March 23^rd. The designated hitter turned in a 3-for-3 day with a home run and a season-high four runs driven in.
-Junior Dillon Lewis stayed hot at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double. The Charlotte native extended his on-base streak to 18 straight games.
-Rookie Jake Barbour extended his hitting streak to four straight games with a 3-for-4 night. The multi-hit performance was Barbour's eighth of the year and he also came around to score four runs.
-Catcher Tyler Cotto extended his hitting streak to five straight with a 2-for-3 evening. Cotto also drew a pair of walks as he ranks top five in the league in free passes.
-Will Budnick and Tyler Peters rounded out the offense with a hit each. Budnick has recorded a hit in eight of his last nine outings.
-Queens starter Landry Jurecka picked up his third win of the season by tossing 5.0 innings. The sophomore surrendered five runs on nine hits while striking out seven Colonels.
-The 19 runs were the second most runs scored this season by the Royals, and the ninth game in which they scored 10 or more runs.
-The four home runs by Queens marked the eighth game this year with 3+ home runs in a game.
 
NEXT UP
Queens and Eastern Kentucky will return to the diamond for game two on Saturday, April 13^th. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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.