FIRST PITCH

Score: North Florida 8 | Queens 6
Records: North Florida (15-9 overall, 4-2 ASUN) | Queens (4-18 overall, 2-4 ASUN)
Location: The Stick (Charlotte, N.C.)

THE SHORT STORY:
Despite a late ninth-inning surge, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team fell short in the series finale against North Florida on Sunday afternoon. The Royals rallied for three runs in the final frame but couldn't complete the comeback against the Ospreys.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
- North Florida wasted little time jumping out to a commanding lead, exploding for five runs in the top of the second inning. A bases-loaded walk later in the inning brought home the first run of the day before Drew Leinenbach delivered the biggest swing of the game, launching a grand slam to left field and extending North Florida's lead to 5-0.
- In the third inning, the Ospreys tacked on another run to make it 6-0 after Cody Bush singled down the right field line to pad their lead.
- Queens got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Justin Hudson homered to center field to cut the deficit to 6-1.
- The Royals continued to chip away in the sixth inning, scoring two more runs to make it a four-run game. Lenox Lively reached on a North Florida error and brought in a run, while Tyler Peters hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Jake Barbour.
- North Florida responded immediately in the top of the seventh with a a sacrifice fly of their own, giving the Ospreys some breathing room with an 8-3 advantage.
- Down to their final three outs, Queens mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Royals loaded the bases with no outs before Anibal Rivera singled to right field, cutting the deficit to 8-4. Will Budnick smashed an RBI single to push home two more runs, making it 8-6. 
- With momentum in Queens' hands, North Florida's bullpen managed to escape the jam and seal the victory.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Anibal Rivera extended his on-base streak to 18 games, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Jacob Grimes finished off the day with a 3-for-4 day to lead the Royals.
• Drew Leinenbach (North Florida) had the game's biggest hit with a grand slam in the second inning.
• Kai Etwaru (North Florida) picked up the win, tossing 5.0 innings with five strikeouts.
• Kaden Humphrey (North Florida) secured his sixth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

UP NEXT
Next, the Royals head to Knoxville, Tenn. to face the University of Tennessee Volunteers for a 6:00 PM start on Tuesday, March 25. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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