FIRST PITCH
Score: North Carolina A&T 6 | Queens 3
Records: North Carolina A&T (2-5 overall, 0-0 CAA) | Queens (3-4 overall, 0-0 ASUN)  
Location: The Stick Williams Dream Fields (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY
In their second all-time meeting with North Carolina A&T, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team was unable to overcome a three-run eighth inning as the Royals fell 6-3 in the weekend finale at The Stick. Seven different Royals recorded a hit on the windy afternoon, including Kendall McDowell, Bradley Brown, Anibal Rivera, Grayson Childers, Justin Hudson, Charlie Marcantel, and Dylan Schaefer.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-After both offenses threatened to score in the first, but couldn't scratch across a run, the Royals jumped on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Anibal Rivera led off the inning with a single through the right side before Grayson Childers dropped down a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error by the Aggies first baseman. Rivera swiped third to put runners on the corners and Childers took second to break up the double play. Charlie Marcantel capitalized sending a fly ball into right field, which got caught in the 18 mph winds before dropping in front of the Aggies right fielder to score the first run of the game. Queens would continue threatening, loading the bases, but a strikeout and groundout got the Aggies out of further damage.
-North Carolina A&T responded in the top of the fourth inning as Savoi Edwards led off the inning with a triple to left field. Nick DiCarlo followed it up with an infield groundout to plate Edwards and tie the game. Reginald Tuggle III worked a walk and stole second and then Sam Schwamb walked to keep the Aggies offense in business. Jackson Gowan picked up the second out of the inning with a strikeout, but Boaz Harper wouldn't let the Royals escape easily sending an RBI single to center field. Queens exchanged the run for the final out of the inning as Bradley Brown hit Dylan Schaefer who delivered a strike to cut down Schwamb trying to advance from first to third.
-Queens jumped back in front in the bottom of the fifth inning with two runs on two hits. Kendall McDowell started the inning with a double down the right field line. Bradley Brown stepped in and followed it up with a single to right field before swiping second to get into scoring position. A groundout to second advanced Brown to third with one out. The Aggies picked up a strikeout, but Brown wouldn't let the visitors escape, stealing home with two outs and giving Queens a 3-2 lead.
-North Carolina A&T struck back in the top of the seventh inning with a run. With two runners in scoring position and one out, Tyler Smith beat out an infield single which scratched across the tying run. Queens reliever Jake Young settled in and picked up back-to-back strikeouts to escape further damage.
-The visiting Aggies added on three more runs in the top of the eighth inning behind two hits. With the bases loaded and one out, Boaz Harper laced a two-run double down the left field line to put the Aggies back in front. JT Taylor followed it up with a sacrifice fly to left field to put the visitors ahead three in the late stages of the game.
-Queens fought until the very end, putting a pair of runners on base and bringing the tying run to the plate. Kendall McDowell stepped in with two outs and roped a deep fly ball to right center, but the howling wind held it up and allowed the Aggies center field to make a leaping grab to end the game.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Junior right-hander Jackson Gowan got his second straight Sunday start and delivered 4.0 innings. The Forest City, North Carolina native allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six Aggies.
-Kendall McDowell roped his second extra-base hit of the season, and first double of the year, as part of a 1-for-4 afternoon.
-Bradley Brown stayed hot at the plate, going 1-for-3 as the redshirt freshman has turned in a hit in 5-of-7 games to start the season. Brown also swiped two bags on the day to extend his team-high.
-Johnny Joseph came into relief for his second appearance and turned in 2.1 innings with a strikeout.
-North Carolina A&T starter Angel Ortiz fanned six Royals across 3.0 innings of work. Aiden Hansen picked up his first win of the season for the Aggies with 3.0 scoreless innings of relief.
-Queens was able to apply pressure early in the innings as the Royals got the leadoff man on in 5 of 9 innings. However, they struggled to move them around and get them in, hitting .176 as a team with runners on base and .200 with runners in scoring position.

NEXT UP
Queens will return to action on Tuesday, February 24^th as the Royals travel to Columbia, South Carolina for a midweek tilt against South Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can purchase their tickets in advance here.
 
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