GAME ONE
 
FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 15 | Kennesaw State 5
Records: Queens (11-27 overall, 7-10 ASUN) | Kennesaw State (21-16 overall, 11-6 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story: Behind a three home-run game from junior Dillon Lewis, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team blasted Kennesaw State in game two of the weekend series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Royals offense exploded for six runs in the second inning to get the scoring started. After Will Budnick was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Tyler Peters blasted a 2-2 fastball over the right field fence. After a single, and a hit batter, Dillon Lewis delivered once again for the Royals with a three-run blast over the left field fence. Will Budnick drove in Matthew Corlew later in the inning following Corlew's double to give the Royals a 6-0 lead.
-After a scoreless third inning, the Royals cashed in again in the fourth. Nick Alderfer got into scoring position after he walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. On the next batter, Tyler Cotto blasted a double down the left field line to extend the Royals lead to 7-0.
-In the fifth inning, the Owls created a scoring threat after a hit batter, double, and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Nick Hassan then belted a grand slam over the left field fence to trim the deficit to 7-4.
-The Royals immediately responded in the fifth as the teams leading hitter Dillon Lewis belted his second home run of the game over the center field fence to extend the Royals lead to 9-4 heading into the sixth inning.
-Kennesaw State loaded the bases in the sixth inning on three walks to create another scoring threat. The Owls cashed in on an RBI single to trim the lead to 9-5, but the Royals managed to minimize the damage.
-The Royals offense stayed hot as they continued to respond scoring two more runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning. A walk, a hit batter, and a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with one out for the Royals. A wild pitch scored the first run before a Tyler Petters RBI single pushed across the second run in the inning for the Royals.
-In the seventh inning, two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs for the Royals. The Royals were able to push across one on a wild pitch, however a fielder's choice, a strikeout, and flyout ended the threat for Queens.
-In the eighth, the Royals secured the run rule victory on a three-run home run by Dillon Lewis as the junior secured his third blast of the game.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Dillon Lewis was electric at the plate for the Royals going 5-for-6 on the day, including three home runs, a double, and eight RBIs. Lewis tied the program's single-game record for homers in a game set by Riley Cheek in 2022.
-Tyler Peters turned in a solid 3-for-5 game at the plate, including his fifth home run of the year.
-Mason Kelly and Andrew McDermott also secured multi-hit performances on the evening. Tyler Cotto and Matthew Corlew each hit doubles rounding out the extra base hits for Queens.
-The 16 hits in game one marked the fourth time the Royals eclipsed 15 hits in a game on the season. The Royals improved to 3-1 in those four games.
-Carson Magill secured the victory on the evening after tossing 5.1 innings of solid pitching. Across those innings, the freshman struck out a season-high six batters allowing five runs on seven hits.
-Sophomore Arnav Ghuliani made his fourth appearance on the season and tossed 2.2 innings. The southpaw worked around four walks by fanning three Owls to keep the visitors scoreless.
-The Royals broke their single-season program record for home runs on Tyler Peters' blast. Queens has belted 69 homers on the year, a mark that is top 25 in the country.
 
GAME TWO
 
FIRST PITCH
Score: Kennesaw State 11 | Queens 8
Records: Kennesaw State (22-16 overall, 12-6 ASUN) | Queens (11-28 overall, 7-12 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story: The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team issued 15 walks in the series finale against Kennesaw State as the Royals dropped the rubber match 11-8.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Kennesaw State got the scoring started in the top of the first inning. With a runner on second and two outs, Nick Hassan roped an RBI single to left field for the early 1-0 lead.
-The Royals answered immediately in the bottom of the first inning when Jake Barbour blasted the fourth pitch of the game over the right-center fence.
-For the second straight inning, Queens put a run on the board as Will Budnick belted his ninth home run of the season. The blast was the Royals sixth of the day and gave Queens a 2-1 lead.
-The visiting Owls would take the lead in the top of the third inning with a two spot. After the first two Owls were retired, the visitors loaded the bases before a two-strike RBI single through the right side brought home a pair of runs.
-Queens answered the Owls crooked number with a three-spot of their own. Andrew McDermott led off the inning with a single through the right side before Dillon Lewis walked. An infield ground out moved both runners up 90 feet, but a strikeout would put the Royals down to two outs. Tyler Cotto remained poised and belted a three-run home run to right center to give the Royals a 5-3 lead.
-The Owls cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth when Isaac Bouton ripped a one-out double down the left-field line to bring home a run. However, Queens responded in the bottom half with a one-out RBI single up the middle from Mason Kelly.
-For the fifth straight inning, the Royals put a run in the scoring column. A walk, hit-by-pitch, and walk loaded the bases with one out before a sacrifice fly from Tyler Peters brought home Nick Alderfer to extend the lead to 7-4.
-Kennesaw State once again answered in the top of the sixth inning with a run on one hit. Isaac Bouton ripped an RBI single through the left side to bring home a run and cut the Queens lead back to 7-5.
-The Owls put a three spot on the Royals in the top of the seventh to grab an 8-7 lead. Kennesaw State capitalized on five walks to grab their first lead since the top of the third inning. Queens responded in the bottom half capitalizing on free passes themselves. Following a hit-by-pitch and two walks, the Royals loaded the bases before Andrew McDermott worked a walk to bring home a run and tie the game back up at 8-8.
-Kennesaw State would strike again in the ninth inning with three runs on three hits. The three-run ninth inning would send the Royals to victory in the series finale as Queens was retired in the bottom half.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Senior Tyler Cotto led the offense with a 2-for-4 game, including a three-run home run. The blast was his 10^th of the season.
-Andrew McDermott notched his fifth multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 evening.
-Rookie Jake Barbour belted his seventh home run of the season as the Raleigh native extended his hitting streak to a season-long 10 straight games.
-Will Budnick and Mason Kelly rounded out the offense with a hit each. Junior Will Budnick blasted his ninth home run of the year and added three walks to his line.
-The Royals pitching staff struggled in game two issuing 15 walks, a mark that tied for the most this season.
 
NEXT UP
Queens will remain at home during the week as they host High Point and Radford for a pair of midweek tilts. Queens and High Point will get underway on Tuesday, April 23^rd at 5:00. The Royals and Highlanders will then meet on Wednesday, April 24^th at 5:00 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.