FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 12 | Stetson 10
Records: Queens (13-39 overall, 9-18 ASUN) | Stetson (33-19 overall, 17-10 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story: Behind a walk off two-run home run from Keanu Spenser, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team salvaged the weekend series with a 12-10 victory to end the 2024 home season victorious.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning with one run on two hits. Dillon Lewis ripped a one-out single up the middle before advancing to second on a wild pitch. With two down, senior Zach Weston punished a 2-1 pitch through the right side for an RBI single.
-Stetson answered in the top of the third inning with two runs on three hits. The visitors loaded the bases with two outs and Landon Moran delivered a two-RBI single to right center to give the Hatters their first lead of the day.
-Queens responded in the bottom half of the third inning when Dillon Lewis belted a leadoff home run. Matthew Corlew and Zach Weston would follow it up with singles and Keanu Spenser came through in the clutch with a two-out single to bring home two runs.
-The Hatters countered with a run in the top of the fourth as Daniel Labrador mashed a leadoff home run to left field.
-The Royals extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tyler Cotto sent a one-out single to right field before stealing second. Will Budnick earned a hit-by-pitch and the Hatters turned to their bullpen. A fly out advanced both runners up 90 feet and Tyler Peters capitalized with an RBI single up the middle to bring home a pair of runs.
-Queens took their largest lead of the weekend in the sixth inning plating three runs on three hits and one Stetson error. Jake Barbour opened the inning with a walk before Matthew Corlew roped an RBI triple to right center. The Hatters turned to the bullpen and Zach Weston greeted the new arm with an RBI single up the middle. With two outs and a runner on second, Will Budnick laced an RBI double to right center to cap off the scoring and give Queens a 9-3 lead.
-Stetson regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning plating seven runs on four hits and one error.
-The Royals responded in the bottom half to tie it up 10-10 when Tyler Peters delivered a two-out RBI single to left field. Queens tried to bring home the go-ahead run on the play, but the Hatters cut down the run.
-Queens held the Hatters off the board in the top of the 10^th inning. After the first two Royals were retired in the bottom of the inning, the home team went to work with two outs. Will Budnick got the rally started with a single through the right side. Keanu Spenser stepped in and belted a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for his first career walk-off homerun as a Royal.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Keanu Spenser led the offensive charge with a 4-for-6 day, including the walk-off homer and four RBIs. The multi-hit performance was his second of the season.
-Junior Dillon Lewis stayed hot going 3-for-5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle. The Charlotte native blasted his team-leading 19^th home run of the season as he recorded his 27^th multi-hit game of the year.
-Zach Weston extended his hitting streak to six straight games with a 3-for-6 afternoon. The Charlotte native scored a pair of runs while also driving in a pair of runs.
-First baseman Will Budnick notched a 3-for-5 game with two runs scored and an RBI.
-Matthew Corlew recorded his 10^th multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-6 day. The right fielder added two runs scored and an RBI.
-Tyler Peters rounded out the multi-hit performances with a 2-for-4 afternoon. Peters drove in three runs for the Royals offense.
-Senior catcher Tyler Cotto reached base three times, including a hit and two walks.
-Landry Jurecka got the ball in his 14^th start of the season. The sophomore tossed 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on five hits while striking out a Hatter.
-Right-handed reliever Joseph Rodriguez was flawless out of the bullpen tossing 2.1 innings. Rodriguez surrendered one run on three hits and picked up his fourth victory of the season.
-Queens rattled off double digit hits for the 21^st time this season as six Royals notched multi-hit games.

NEXT UP
Queens will hit the road for the final week of the season. The Royals will make the short trip to Gardner-Webb on Tuesday, May 14^th for a midweek game at 6:00 p.m. before heading to Bellarmine next weekend for a three-game series.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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