FIRST PITCH
Score: Davidson 9 | Queens 8
Records: Davidson (18-25 overall, 4-11 Atlantic 10) | Queens (11-34 overall, 7-14 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story: In a back-and-forth crosstown showdown with Davidson on Tuesday night, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped a tough battle 9-8 to the visiting Wildcats.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The visiting Wildcats struck first in the top of the first inning. Following a one-out walk, Eli Putnam roped a double to right center putting runners in scoring position. Cider Canon followed it up with a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the first run of the game.
-Queens got the run back in the bottom of the second inning behind a timely two-out single from Tyler Peters. Matthew Corlew reached on a one-out walk before advancing to second on an infield ground out. Peters would follow it up with a clutch RBI single up the middle to tie it up 1-1.
-Davidson answered the Royals with a four spot in the top of the third inning. The Wildcats used four hits, including a two-run blast from Cider Canon to grab an early 5-1 lead.
-Queens responded immediately in the bottom half of the third. Dillon Lewis worked a one-out walk before Jake Barbour blasted a two-run shot to right field. Tyler Cotto followed it up with a walk before Nick Alderfer roped a double to right field. The Wildcats turned to their bullpen where Matthew Corlew was greeted by a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Will Budnick brought home the third run of the frame on an infield groundout to cut the deficit to 5-4.
-The Royals tied it up in the bottom of the fourth inning with a run. Mason Kelly opened the frame with a single through the left side before Evan Zapp advanced him to second on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch moved Kelly to third and Dillon Lewis brought him home with an infield ground out.
-Davidson regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning by capitalizing on a critical two-out Queens error. After the error kept the inning alive, Jacob Friend belted a three-run home run over the scoreboard in right field to grab an 8-5 advantage.
-As they have done all season, Queens responded immediately with a three-run bottom of the sixth inning. Tyler Peters and Zach Weston led off the inning with back-to-back walks as the Wildcats turned to their bullpen. Andrew McDermott greeted the new arm with an RBI single to left center before Dillon Lewis and Jake Barbour followed with RBI singles as well.
-For the second straight inning, Davidson plated a run as the visitors used a solo home run from Hunter Anderson to regain a slim 9-8 lead.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Freshman Jake Barbour led the offense with a 2-for-5 evening, including his eighth home run of the season.
-After coming in as a pinch hitter, Zach Weston posted a 2-for-2 game with his ninth double of the season.
-Dillon Lewis stayed hot at the plate going 1-for-4 while driving in two runs.
-Shortstop Tyler Peters turned in a 1-for-3 night offensively and drove in his fifth RBI of the year. The junior has recorded a hit in seven of the last nine games, including four straight.
-Tyler Cotto, Nick Alderfer, Mason Kelly, and Andrew McDermott rounded out the offense with a base hit. Cotto, Kelly, and McDermott each added a run to their line as well.
-Freshman reliever Johnny Joseph was flawless out of the bullpen. The right-hander tossed a season-high 3.1 scoreless innings while striking out three Wildcats.
-Joseph Rodriguez and Isaiah Bennett were dominant in the back half of the bullpen. The duo combined to throw 2.0 scoreless frames while striking out three Wildcats.

NEXT UP
Queens will return to the diamond this weekend when they host North Alabama for a three-game ASUN series. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3^rd, and will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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