FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 6 | FGCU 5
Records: Queens (5-27 overall, 3-11 ASUN) | FGCU (13-21 overall, 5-9 ASUN)
Location: The Stick (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
The Short Story:
With the game-winning run on second and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, junior Anibal Rivera sent a 1-0 pitch through the left side, bringing home Caleb Stewart as the Royals walked it off against Florida Gulf Coast to even the three-game weekend series. After being held in check early, the Royals took advantage of the Eagles bullpen, plating four runs over the final two innings to storm from behind and secure their first home victory of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens jumped on Florida Gulf Coast early with two runs on two hits in the first inning. Jake Barbour got the surge started with a one-out single to left center before Anibal Rivera beat out an infield single. Justin Hudson stepped in and roped a deep fly ball to left field which was dropped by the Eagles outfielder allowing Barbour to come around and score. Lenox Lively worked a one-out walk to put runners on the corners and Nick Alderfer sent a timely sacrifice fly into right field to bring home Rivera for the 2-0 lead.
-Florida Gulf Coast chipped away at the deficit in the top of the fourth inning following a leadoff double from Evan Dempsey. A deep fly ball to center field from Cayden Hessemyer advanced Dempsey to third before a two-out double to left field from Nathan Gagnon plated the Eagles first run.
-For the second straight frame, the Eagles plated a run. Jake McKee led off the inning with a bunt single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Robert Moya stepped in and sent an RBI single into left field to tie the game 2-2. With runners on second and third, Queens starter Ryan Brown escaped the jam with a fly out.
-The visiting Eagles would grab their first lead of the day in the top of the seventh inning when Robert Moya blasted a solo home run to right field to give FGCU a 3-2 lead.
-Florida Gulf Coast added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning as Jon Embury led off the frame with a single through the left side. A fly out and a fielder's choice inched the Royals closer to ending the threat, but an RBI single from Jake McKee plated an Eagles run to extend the lead to 4-2.
-In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Eagles turned to their bullpen and the Royals jumped on the new arm with three runs on four hits. Jake Barbour and Anibal Rivera got the rally started with back-to-back singles through the right side. Junior Justin Hudson stepped in and laced an RBI double down the left field line to score Barbour. Lenox Lively followed it up with a timely sacrifice fly to plate Rivera and tie the game 4-4. With one down and a runner on second, Nick Alderfer ripped an 0-2 pitch up the middle to score Hudson and give the Royals a 5-4 lead.
-Down to their final three outs, the Eagles didn't waver as Robert Moya worked a leadoff walk. Mac Moise followed with an infield single to put the Eagles in business. After Derek Westfall retired the next batter with a fly out, Tyler Herb sent a single through the left side to load the bases. Westfall would get an infield pop up to bring the Royals within an out, but a walk from Nathan Gagnon brought home the tying run.
-Looking for their first walk off win of the season, the Royals came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning needing just one run. Jay Polite was hit by a pitch to open the frame and Chase Fogg delivered a sacrifice bunt to move the winning run into scoring position. Veteran Caleb Stewart roped a groundball to the shortstop who cut down Polite at third base. Stewart used his speed to swipe second and get the winning run back in scoring position and the Eagles intentionally walked Jake Barbour to bring Anibal Rivera to the plate. The junior watched a first pitch ball before sending a single through the left side. Head Coach Jake Hendrick wasted no time sending Stewart who beat the throw to the plate sending the Royals to a 6-5 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Sophomore Jake Barbour recorded his eighth multi-hit game of the season with a 3-for-4 performance. The three-hit day was the Raleigh natives' second of the season.
-Shortstop Anibal Rivera notched his sixth multi-hit game of the year with a 3-for-5 day, including the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth. Rivera also came around to score a pair of runs for the Royals.
-Justin Hudson and Nick Alderfer rounded out the offense with a hit. Hudson drove in a pair of runs with his fifth double of the season.
-Freshman Ryan Brown put together the best start of his young career twirling a season-high 6.2 innings and a season-high seven strikeouts. The right-hander allowed just three runs on 10 hits.
-Derek Westfall improved to 2-1 on the year after picking up the win in relief. The right-hander tossed 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
-Despite the Eagles tallying 15 hits on the day, the Royals pitching staff minimized the damage as the Eagles left 13 runners on base.
-The Royals offense started connected later in the game and Queens hit .455 on the day when runners were on base.

NEXT UP
Queens and Florida Gulf Coast will return to the diamond for the series finale on Sunday, April 13^th at 12:00 p.m. Fans can catch all the action on the Queens Sports Network.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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