FIRST PITCH
Score: #1 Tennessee 14 | Queens 3
Records: Tennessee (23-2 overall, 5-1 SEC) | Queens (4-19 overall, 2-4 ASUN)
Location: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
 
The Short Story:
In their second all-time meeting with the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team couldn't overcome nine walks and four hit-by-pitches as the Volunteers took down the Royals 14-3 on Tuesday night. Despite the loss, junior Anibal Rivera extended his on-base streak to 19 straight games with his team-leading sixth home run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The top-ranked Volunteers jumped on the board first when Dalton Bargo sent a high fly ball into the wind which carried over the left center field wall. Hunter Ensley followed it up with a double to left center to keep the Tennessee offense in business. Andrew Fischer would lace a single off the right field wall, but a great throw from Jay Polite would cut Fischer down at second. Queens starter Ryan Brown worked an infield pop up to escape the inning with minimal damage.
-Tennessee manufactured another run in the bottom of the second inning as Reese Chapman led off the inning with a double. The Volunteers would move Chapman to third with a groundout to first base before they plated the run on a groundout to shortstop, extending their lead to 2-0.
-Queens jumped on the board in the top of the fourth inning with a big inning. Anibal Rivera got the frame started with a solo blast to left center before Jake Barbour singled up the middle. Will Budnick sent a deep fly ball down the left field line which allowed Barbour to tag up and advance to second. Nick Alderfer would be hit by a pitch and force the Volunteers to turn to the bullpen. The move proved successful as the Volunteers picked up a strikeout, but a double steal by the Royals resulted in an errant throw by the catcher, allowing Alderfer to score. Justin Hudson capitalized on the miscue with an RBI single through the left side to cap off a three-run inning for the Royals.
-Tennessee erupted in the bottom of the fifth inning plating six runs on two hits. The Volunteers capitalized on four walks and two hit-by-pitches with timely two-out swings to grab an 8-3 lead.
-The Volunteers tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Royals issued four free passes. Tennessee did all of their damage with two outs.
-Tennessee rounded out their offensive performance with a two-run eighth inning as Blake Grimmer laced a two-run homer to right center extending the Volunteers lead to 14-3.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Infielder Jake Barbour extended his season-high hitting streak to eight straight games with a 1-for-4 evening.
-Justin Hudson drove in his team-leading 18th RBI with a 1-for-4 day at the plate.
-Nick Alderfer and Jay Polite rounded out the offense with a hit each. Polite laced his first career hit in the top of the ninth.
-Freshman Ryan Brown earned his second career start and tossed 3.1 solid innings allowing just two runs on four hits. The rookie retired the final seven Volunteers he faced.
-Boulder, Colorado native Jack Brooker impressed in his 10^th appearance of the season throwing 1.1 scoreless innings allowing just one hit.

NEXT UP
Queens will head back on the road this weekend, heading to the Sunshine State for a three-game slate against Jacksonville University. The series will get underway on Friday, March 28^th at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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