CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team is set for another busy week of action beginning Tuesday, April 16^th at USC Upstate. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on ESPN Plus. Following the midweek tilt, the Royals will return home for a three-game series against Kennesaw State.
 
 
QUEENS ROYALS (10-25 overall, 6-9 ASUN)

• Queens is looking to carry their momentum from the weekend into the new week. The Royals secured their second ASUN series of the season taking the first two games from Eastern Kentucky on the road.
• A significant contributor to the Royals success in Richmond was the long ball as Queens blasted 11 home runs over the three-game set. The 11 homers were the most by a Royals offense across a three-game series since joining Division 1 last season.
• The home run party kept the Royals in second in the ASUN in homers this season. Queens ranks 26^th in the country in home runs, and sit five short of tying their all-time single-season program record.
• Dillon Lewis has been the offensive spark for the Royals as the junior is hitting a team-high .386 with a team-best 10 doubles and 10 home runs. Lewis enters Tuesday night on a 20-game on-base streak, a mark that ties Riley Cheek for the longest in Division 1 program history.
• Freshman Jake Barbour has found his groove at the plate recently. The Raleigh native hit .600 over the weekend at EKU with a double, triple, two home runs, and six RBIs. Barbour enters Tuesday night riding a six-game hitting streak.
• Since entering the starting lineup in the Lipscomb series, junior Andrew McDermott is hitting .444 with 11 runs scored, two doubles, four home runs, and six RBIs. Against EKU, the outfielder punished the Colonels with two doubles, three home runs, and five RBIs.
• Senior outfielder Matthew Corlew is coming off a hot weekend against his former team. The EKU transfer went 7-for-13 against his former squad with eight RBIs and five runs scored. Corlew has found ways to get on base reaching safely in seven of the last nine games. Once getting on base, Corlew has been a threat to steal going swiping 10 bags which is the second most on the team.
• Tyler Cotto has been a consistent offensive presence in the Royals lineup this season. The senior is hitting .271 on the year and sits second on the team with a .435 on-base percentage in part to a team-high 26 walks. Cotto has shown his power this season roping seven doubles and blasting nine home runs, both of which are second on the team.
• On the mound, the Royals have struck out 233 batters, a mark that is fourth most in a single season in program history. Kansas State transfer Landry Jurecka leads the Royals with 52 strikeouts, a mark that is fifth in the league.
• The pitching staff has struggled to prevent free base runners this season surrendering the most walks in the conference. Queens is averaging 6.9 walks per game and has issued 10 or more walks on nine occasions.

USC UPSTATE SPARTANS (24-13 overall, 10-2 BIG SOUTH)

• USC Upstate comes into Tuesday's matchup fresh off a decisive 2-1 series victory over The Citadel. The Spartans won the rubber match on Sunday 7-2 enroute to their third consecutive conference series victory.
• The Spartans boast the Big South's best offense as they lead the conference in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.
• USC Upstate is a threat to score at any moment as five different Spartans have blasted double-digit home runs on the season. 
• Junior outfielder Jace Rinehart is the leader of the Spartan offense as he leads the team with 59 hits including 10 home runs, 14 doubles, and three triples. Rinehardt comes into Tuesday red hot with multi-hit performances in five of his last seven starts.
• Noah Sullivan has been dominant at the plate and on the bump for the Spartans. As a hitter, he is tied for the team lead in home runs while also adding three doubles. On the mound, Sullivan has tossed a team-leading 56.1 innings with a 3.99 ERA and 40 strikeouts.
• Clovis, California native Koby Kropf has become an extra-base machine for the Spartans as 20 of his 43 hits have been extra-base hits, including 10 home runs and 10 doubles.
• The USC Upstate pitching staff has been a stabilizing force for the hosts all season. The Spartans are second in the conference in ERA and walks.

 KENNESAW STATE OWLS (20-14 overall, 10-5 ASUN)

• Kennesaw State swept Central Arkansas in dominant fashion over the weekend. After a narrow 3-2 victory on Friday, the Owls outscored the Bears 22-3 over the next two games to complete the sweep.
• Senior infielder Isaac Bouton is the Owls leading slugger with 10 home runs and 10 doubles this season. Bouton has hit multiple home runs in two separate contests this season.
• Senior Brayden Eidson has been a steadying presence for the Owls leading the team in batting average with a team-leading 49 hits. The McDonough, Georgia native has made six appearances on the mound for the Owls as well. Across 14.0 innings of work, Eidson has struck out nine batters.
• Jackson Chirello is efficient at getting on base for the Owls as he leads the team in walks with 24, and boasts the second-highest on base percentage.
• Kennesaw State has one of the best pitching staffs in the entire ASUN boasting the lowest ERA while ranking third in walks allowed.
• Canton, Georgia native Blake Alta has been the leader on the mound for the Owls. In nine starts, Alta has totaled a team-leading 54 strikeouts, while allowing just 18 walks and 15 earned runs. He boasts a team-leading 2.63 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP.
• Nolan Sliver has been a steadying presence out of the bullpen for the Owls. Across 31.1 innings of work, he has struck out 26 batters, while allowing 14 walks.

 
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