FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 11 | Lipscomb 3
Records: Queens (8-21 overall, 4-6 ASUN) | Lipscomb (7-21 overall, 3-7 ASUN)
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Dugan Field)
 
The Short Story: Behind a two home-run night from Dillon Lewis, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team blasted the Lipscomb Bisons in game one of the weekend series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Lipscomb jumped on the board first with three runs on four hits and two walks in the bottom of the first inning. The highlight of the inning was a three-run home run from Parks Bouck to left field.
-After being held scoreless through the first three innings, the Royals broke through in the top of the fourth when Tyler Cotto belted a solo home run to left field.
-Queens carried their momentum into the fifth and plated another pair of runs to tie the game 3-3. Andrew McDermott worked a key two-out walk before the hottest hitter in the Royals lineup laced a two-run shot to left field for the equalizer.
-Similar to the fifth inning, the Royals did damage with two outs and it began in the same fashion. Andrew McDermott led off the frame with a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Dillon Lewis roped an RBI single to left-center and head coach Jake Hendrick waved McDermott home for the 4-3 lead. Nick Alderfer followed it up with a pinch-hit RBI single up the middle to extend the Royals lead to 5-3.
-Queens blew the game open in the top of the eighth inning with five runs on three hits and one Bisons error. Will Budnick led off the inning with a single through the right side before Tyler Peters reached on an error. A fielder's choice put runners on the corner before Jake Barbour stole second. Matthew Corlew would also reach on a fielder's choice as Budnick was cut down at the plate. Queens went back to work with two outs as Mason Kelly singled to left center bringing home a run. Andrew McDermott followed it up with another walk to load the bases. Junior Dillon Lewis stepped in and blasted a grand slam for his second homer of the day to give the Royals a 10-3 lead.
-The visiting Royals added another insurance run in the top of the ninth as Jake Barbour sent a sacrifice fly to right field bringing home Cotto for the 11-3 lead.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Junior Dillon Lewis remained hot at the plate going 3-for-5, including a pair of home runs. The Charlotte native extended his multi-hit streak to six straight games. Lewis tied the single-game program record with seven RBIs which was set by Riley Cheek on April 16, 2022.
-Catcher Tyler Cotto put together another great night at the dish going 2-for-4. The senior blasted his ninth home run of the season which moved him into the top five in a single season in program history.
-Will Budnick recorded his seventh multi-hit performance with a 2-for-5 night. The junior extended his hitting streak to six straight games.
-Senior Matthew Corlew found his way on twice by way of a double and a walk. The outfielder is riding a season-long six-game hitting streak.
-Mason Kelly and Nick Alderfer rounded out the offense with a base hit each. Alderfer delivered a clutch pinch-hit RBI in the fifth to give the Royals a swing in momentum.
-Queens starter Landry Jurecka tossed 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out five.
-Joseph Rodriguez improved to 3-4 on the year as the graduate student tossed a solid 4.0 innings of relief. The right-hander held the Bisons scoreless and surrendered a pair of hits.
 
NEXT UP
Queens and Lipscomb will return to the diamond for game two on Saturday, April 3^rd at 3:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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