FIRST PITCH (GAME 1)
Score: Queens 2 | Navy 1
Records: Queens (1-1 overall, 0-0 ASUN) | Navy (1-1 overall, 0-0 Patriot)
Location: The Stick Williams Dream Fields (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY
In the opening game of a Saturday doubleheader between Queens and Navy, the Royals outlasted the Midshipmen in a pitcher's duel to secure their first victory of the 2026 season. The Queens pitching staff combined to surrender one run on three hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Navy got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. With a runner on first and one out, Mason Ceccarelli laced a single to put runners on the corners. Ceccarelli swiped second to break up the chance of a double play, and the move proved timely as Will Howard grounded out to shortstop to plate the first run of the game.
-The Royals responded back in the bottom half of the inning as Mitchel Basterrechea opened the inning with a single to right field. Grayson Childers dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Basterrechea into scoring position. A wild pitch and a walk from Anibal Rivera put runners on the corners and newcomer Michael Brunetti delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game back up.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Queens starter Matthew Eagen got his first start of the season and tossed 5.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out a pair.
-Newcomer Jake Young came into relief and closed out the game with 4.0 scoreless innings to pick up his first career save as a Royal.
-Six Royals recorded a hit on the day, including Kendall McDowell, Thomas Mathay, Bradley Brown, Mitchell Basterrechea, Jacob Grimes, and Michael Brunetti. Basterrechea and Brunetti knocked in the two runs for the Royals offense.
 
FIRST PITCH (GAME 2)
Score: Navy 12 | Queens 4
Records: Navy (2-1 overall, 0-0 Patriot) | Queens (1-2 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: The Stick Williams Dream Fields (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY
Looking to secure an opening weekend series against Navy, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped the rubber match on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 12-4. In the finale, Kendall McDowell and Justin Hudson paced the offense with multi-hit performances, but the Midshipmen capitalized on 14 walks and eight hit-by-pitches with timely swings to take the series.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-After both offenses went scoreless through three frames, Navy plated four runs on two hits in the top of the fourth inning. Victor Izquierdo ripped a one-out RBI triple to left center before an RBI ground out from Ty DePerno scratched across the second run. The Midshipmen weren't finished as a two-out walk, and a double down the left field line from Tyler Cripe chased Queens starter Jackson Gowan from the game. Kensen Green came into relief and three free passes brought across two more Navy runs to round out the four-run inning.
-Queens chipped away at the deficit in the bottom of the fifth when Justin Hudson uncorked his first home run of the season to bring the deficit to 4-1.
-However, the momentum was short-lived as the Midshipmen responded immediately with five runs on two hits and two Queens errors to regain a commanding 9-1 lead.
-Both offenses would go quiet in the seventh before adding on a combined six runs over the final two frames. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kendall McDowell ripped a one-out single to left field before Gage Doss roped an RBI double down the right field line to bring home McDowell. An inning later, Justin Hudson beat out a one-out infield single, and Grayson Childers reached on a hit-by-pitch to put the Royals in action. Matthew Suppa stepped in and delivered a single up the middle to load the bases, and Dylan Schaefer followed it up with a walk to plate a run. Kendall McDowell stepped in and scratched across the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly before the Midshipmen sealed the win with a strikeout.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Newcomer Kendall McDowell stayed hot, turning in a 2-for-3 game as he finished the weekend with a hit in all three games.
-Veteran Justin Hudson got his first start of the season and cashed in with his ninth career home run.
-Gage Doss and Matthew Suppa rounded out the Royals offense with a hit.
-Victory Izquierdo and Tyler Cripe led Navy offensively with 3-for-4 games.
-The Royals pitching staff was unable to overcome 14 walks and eight hit batters.
-Owen Phypers kept the Royals offense in check, surrendering just one run across 5.0 innings while striking out seven.

NEXT UP
Queens will return to action on Tuesday, February 17^th as the Royals host Radford. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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