FIRST PITCH
Score: Navy 12 | Queens 1
Records: Navy (1-0 overall, 0-0 Patriot) | Queens (0-1 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: The Stick Williams Dream Fields (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY
On the opening day of the 2026 college baseball season, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped a 12-1 tilt against Navy on Friday night. The Midshipmen sprayed 13 hits on the night while limiting the Royals offense to four hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Navy got the offense started early as John Loudon laced a leadoff single down the right field line. Chris Klug followed it up with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners with no outs. Queens starter Joey Ruller picked up a key strikeout before the Midshipmen struck first with a sacrifice fly to center from Evan Brown. Ruller closed the top of the frame with a lineout to limit the early damage.
-The Midshipmen stayed hot early, plating two runs on one hit in the top of the second. Victor Izquierdo led off the frame with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a flyout. Tyler Cripe drew a walk and swiped second two put a pair in scoring position. Henry Mitchell scored Izquierdo with an RBI groundout before John Loudon laced an RBI double to right field to extend the Navy lead to 3-0.
-Navy broke through in the top of the fourth inning with four runs on three hits. With runners on second and third and one out, Tyler Cripe delivered a sacrifice fly to advance both runners. Henry Mitchell followed it up with an RBI single through the right side and John Loudon belted a two-run homer to cap off the scoring and extend the Midshipmen lead to 7-0.
-The visitors continued scratching across runs, and plated four runs on three hits and two Queens errors in the top of the sixth. The four-run frame was capped off by an RBI single from Andrew Manning.
-Queens jumped on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kendall McDowell blasted a solo home run off the score board in right field.
-The Midshipmen returned the favor in the top of the seventh when Victor Izquierdo sent a leadoff homer to right field to extend the visitors' lead to 12-1.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Redshirt freshman Bradley Brown led the offense with a 2-for-3 afternoon.
-Junior Kendall McDowell blasted the first home run of the season, and his first in the Queen City as part of a 1-for-3 day.
-Thomas Mathay rounded out the offense with a 1-for-3 night.
-Southpaw Joey Ruller got the opening day start and surrendered seven runs on eight hits across four innings of work.
-Freshmen Owen Shipman and Avery Booker got their first collegiate appearances and combined for three innings of work.
-John Loudon led the Navy offense with a 4-for-4 day and five RBI.
-Brady Bendik got the start for the Midshipmen and tossed 5.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six Royals.

NEXT UP
Queens and Navy will return to action tomorrow, February 14^th for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m. This was a change from the original schedule due to inclement weather in the forecast on Sunday. The Knothole Foundation is charging $10 for tomorrow's doubleheader.
 
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.