FIRST PITCH
Score: Stetson 3 | Queens 1
Records: Stetson (27-14 overall, 16-2 ASUN) | Queens (5-32 overall, 3-15 ASUN)
Location: Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields (Radford, Va.)
 
The Short Story:
The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped the series finale against the league-leaders from Stetson on Saturday afternoon, 3-1, despite a strong start from Landry Jurecka. The right-hander tossed a career-high 9.0 innings while allowing three runs. Jurecka struck out 10 Hatters matching his career-high.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-After both offenses were held scoreless through four frames, the visiting Hatters plated a pair in the top of the fifth inning. Foster Apple led off the inning with a double to left center before Jordan Taylor sent an RBI double to right center. Taylor would swipe third and Landon Russell would bring home the second run of the frame with a sacrifice fly.
-The visiting Hatters extended their lead in the top of the seventh after Landon Moran beat the Royals shift with a leadoff triple down the right field line. Foster Apple capitalized on the early opportunity with an RBI single that bounced over the head of Nick Alderfer at third base and into left field.
-Queens responded in the bottom of the seventh inning as Nick Alderfer opened the inning by reaching on a fielding error by the Hatters right fielder. A sacrifice bunt from Will Budnick advanced Alderfer into scoring position, and Justin Hudson delivered an RBI single to left field on the 11^th pitch of the at-bat.

BY THE NUMBERS
-The impressive outing from Jurecka lowered his season ERA to 3.86 which ranks top 10 in the ASUN. Against league opponents, Jurecka holds a 1.96 ERA which is sixth in the league. The Greenwood, Arkansas native is third in the league with 56 strikeouts this season.
-Justin Hudson led the Royals offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including his team-leading 21^st RBI.
-Sophomore Jake Barbour extended his team-high multi-hit game total to 11 with a 2-for-4 day, including his seventh double of the season.
-Anibal Rivera and Tyler Peters rounded out the Queens offense with a hit.
-The complete game from Jurecka marked the first by a Royals pitcher since Jeffery Maidhof threw 9.0 innings at Bellarmine on May 13, 2023. Jurecka became the fourth player in program history to toss a complete game.
-Stetson starter Jonathan Gonzalez turned in a solid outing throwing 6.1 innings and allowing one unearned run on four hits while striking out 10 Royals.

NEXT UP
Queens will return to action on Tuesday, April 22^nd as the Royals travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina for a midweek clash with Wofford. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the baseball program on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with Queens Baseball throughout the offseason. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics, to stay up to date with all of the Royals' Athletics.