FIRST PITCH
Score: Yale 4 | Queens 3
Records: Yale (2-0 overall, 0-0 Ivy League) | Queens (2-4 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick)
 
The Short Story:
The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped a thrilling game two against Yale on Saturday afternoon. After the Bulldogs hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth, the Royals offense put pressure on the Bulldogs forcing back-to-back plays to be reviewed, but the calls stood as the Bulldogs edged the Royals. Despite the loss, Queens earned a quality start from newcomer Kensen Green as the southpaw tossed six innings and allowed just two runs while striking out seven batters.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens jumped on the visiting Bulldogs in the first inning with two runs on one hit and one Bulldogs error. Jake Barbour worked a one-out walk before Nick Alderfer ripped a deep fly ball to center field which was misplayed by the Bulldogs outfielder allowing the Royals to put runners in scoring position. Senior Will Budnick capitalized on the misplay with a two-run double down the right field line to put the Royals ahead early.
-Yale would respond in the top half of the second inning following a leadoff single from Max Imhoff. A wild pitch moved Imhoff into scoring position and a Kaiden Dossa RBI double brought across the Bulldogs first run to cut into the deficit.
-The visiting Bulldogs tied it up in the top of the fourth inning with one run on a timely one-out double from Garrett Larsen. Queens responded in the bottom of the fourth inning as Matthew Suppa delivered a two-out RBI single to center field to make the Bulldogs pay for a pair of walks early in the frame to regain a 3-2 lead.
-Yale would tie the game up in the top of the eighth inning with a run on two hits. Following a one-out double from Alec Atkinson, the Bulldogs followed it up with an RBI double from Jake Williams to tie the game 3-3.
-The visiting Bulldogs would take the lead in the top of the ninth inning courtesy of a solo home run off the bat off Jack Dauer.
-Queens wouldn't go away putting pressure on the Bulldogs from the start of the bottom of the ninth inning. Yale turned to their closer and Lenox Lively greeted the new arm with a single through the right side. Freshman Jay Polite would enter as a pinch runner and advance to second on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position with no outs. The Bulldogs would get their first out on a groundout to shortstop, but Matthew Suppa followed it up with a chopper to the shortstop and reach safely on the error. With runners on first and third and one down, a grounder back to the pitcher led to a play at the plate where Polite was thrown out. Following a nearly 10-minute review, the call on the field stood. Sophomore Jake Barbour stepped in and ripped a ball up the middle, but a deflection by the pitcher found the glove of the second baseman who got a diving Barbour at first base by inches. The play was reviewed, but the call ultimately stood securing the 4-3 win for the Bulldogs.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-Junior southpaw Kensen Green earned his second start of the season and turned in a quality six innings of work. The Williamston, South Carolina native allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out seven Bulldogs.
-Sophomore Jake Barbour extended his hitting streak to six straight with a 1-for-4 afternoon. The Raleigh native also drew a walk and plated a run.
-Senior Will Budnick laced his fourth extra-base hit of the season, and third double as part of a 1-for-4 day.
-Freshman Lenox Lively picked up his second collegiate hit and turned in a 1-for-3 afternoon.
-Charlotte native Matthew Suppa laced an RBI single for his first hit and RBI of the young season.
-Caleb Stewart rounded out the offense with a 1-for-4 game, including a single to start the seventh inning.
-Kaiden Dossa led the Bulldogs with a 3-for-4 day, including an RBI.

NEXT UP
Queens and Yale will wrap up the three-game weekend series on Sunday, February 23^rd at the Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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