FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 16 | Eastern Kentucky 13
Records: Queens (10-24 overall, 6-8 ASUN) | EKU (9-25 overall, 6-8 ASUN)
Location: Richmond, Ky. (Earle Combs Stadium)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team blasted six home runs on Saturday night to clinch the weekend series at Eastern Kentucky with a convincing 16-13 victory. Across two games, the Royals offense has erupted with 35 runs and 10 home runs against the Colonels.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-For the third straight game, the Royals jumped on their opponent with a dominant first inning. Following back-to-back singles from Dillon Lewis and Jake Barbour, senior JJ Sousa blasted a three-run shot to right-center for the early 3-0 lead. The Colonels returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning with a solo shot to right field to cut the deficit to 3-1.
-The Royals would answer back immediately in the second inning plating three runs on two big swings. Tyler Peters and Jake Barbour delivered a pair of home runs to put the Royals back ahead 6-1. EKU would strike back again in the bottom half when Justin Carinci delivered a two-out RBI single which brought home a pair of runs.
-As they have done all year, Queens responded again to the Colonels scoring with a two-run third inning. The frame was capped off by a two-run blast from Will Budnick for the Royals fourth home run of the game.
-Eastern Kentucky answered back with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Following a lead-off walk, Max Williams roped an RBI triple into the right-center gap to cut the deficit back to 8-4.
-After both offenses were retired in the fourth, the two squads exchanged blows in the fifth inning. With two outs and a runner on second, Matthew Corlew delivered an RBI double to left center for his fourth hit of the weekend. The Colonels responded quickly in the bottom half on a solo blast from Ron Franklin to lead off the inning. The home team added another run on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead back to 9-6.
-For the third time in the game, the Royals answered in the next half inning as Andrew McDermott blasted his third home run of the weekend down the right-field line to extend the lead back to four.
-Queens erupted in the seventh inning with six runs on three clutch swings. With runners on second and third and one out, Tyler Peters roped a two-run double to right field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Andrew McDermott followed it up with an RBI double to left-center to extend the Royals lead to 13-6. After Dillon Lewis walked, freshman Jake Barbour belted his second home run of the game to bring home three more runs and give the Royals a commanding 16-6 advantage.
-Eastern Kentucky kept the game alive in the bottom half of the seven with two runs on one hit. The Colonels capitalized on a hit-by-pitch and a walk as a two-run triple followed with two outs to keep the game alive.
-The Colonels would not go away lightly plating five runs on four hits in the bottom of the ninth, but Logan Schmitt got a ground out to escape and secure the series for the Royals.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Freshman Jake Barbour led the offense with a 4-for-5 night, including two home runs and five RBIs. The four-hit night marked a season-high for the Raleigh native as he extended his hitting streak to five straight games.
-Matthew Corlew remained hot at the plate turning in a 2-for-4 evening with an RBI and two runs scored. The EKU transfer is hitting .500 on the weekend with four runs scored and six RBIs in his return to Richmond.
-Junior Andrew McDermott posted his third multi-hit performance of the season with a 2-for-2 night. The outfielder belted his third home run of the weekend and scored a pair of runs.
-Making his 33^rd start this season, shortstop Tyler Peters mailed in a 2-for-5 game with a double, home run, and three RBIs.
-JJ Sousa and Will Budnick blasted home runs for the second straight night. Budnick has homered in three straight games.
-Junior Dillon Lewis extended his on-base streak to 19 straight games with a 1-for-3 game. The Charlotte native will look to tie Riley Cheek for the program's on-base streak record in Division 1 in the series finale on Sunday.
-Johhny Joseph picked up his first collegiate win tossing one scoreless inning of relief.
-On the night, Queens blasted six home runs giving them 10 total for the weekend. The mark is the most home runs in a weekend series in Division 1 for the Royals.
-Queens plated 16 runs on the night marking the 10^th game in which the Royals scored 10 or more runs. In those games, Queens is 8-2 on the year.
 
NEXT UP
Queens and Eastern Kentucky will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday, April 14^th. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 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.