FIRST PITCH
Score: Army 3 | Queens 2
Records: Army (3-4 Overall, 0-0 Patriot) | Queens (4-5 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: The Stick Williams Dream Fields (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY
In their first-ever meeting with the Army Black Knights, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped a tough 3-2 battle at The Stick. Charlotte native Joey Ruller turned in another gem with a career-high 7.2 innings of work while matching his career-high with seven strikeouts. The difference in the night proved to be executing with runners in scoring position, as the Royals stranded 12 runs on the evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens struck in the bottom of the first, scoring one run on two hits. Grayson Childers doubled to right-center before Anibal Rivera doubled down the right field line, which pulled Childers home for the first run of the game.
-Army struck right back in the top of the second when Josiah Overb belted a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right center to tie it up 1-1.
-The visiting Black Knights took their first lead of the night in the top of the fifth inning by capitalizing on a Queens error. With a runner on second and one out, Zac Farrell chopped a ground ball to third, and an errant throw to first sent Farrell to second and brought across the go-ahead run.
-Queens got the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning as Matthew Suppa led off the frame with a six-pitch walk. Dylan Schaefer dropped down a bunt and beat out the throw to first to put the Royals offense in business. Thomas Mathay followed it up with a single through the right side to bring home Charlie Marcantel, who entered as a pinch runner for Suppa. With runners on the corners still and no outs, the Black Knights would escape the inning without further damage with a strikeout and two fielders' choices.
-Army capitalized in the top of the eighth inning, scoring one run with one hit. Zac Farrell drew a four-pitch walk before Thomas Schreck advanced Farrell to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. David Dubrule followed with a one-out RBI single to right center to bring Farrell home and give the Black Knights a 3-2 lead.
-Chasing one run with six outs remaining, the Royals offense would go away in order as Army held onto the 3-2 victory in the series opener.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Queens starter Joey Ruller turned in a career high 7.2 innings while matching his career high with seven strikeouts.
-Seven Royals turned in a hit on the night, including Thomas Mathay, Karter Wong, Grayson Childers, Anibal Rivera, Lenox Lively, Charlie Marcantel, and Dylan Schaefer.
-Grayson Childers ripped his second double of the season while Anibal Rivera turned in his first extra-base hit of the year.
-Dylan Schaefer extended his on-base streak to seven straight games, while also extending his hitting streak to six straight games.
-Relievers Avery Booker and Davin Pollard combined to throw 1.1 innings of relief, and Booker had two strikeouts.

NEXT UP
Queens and Army return to action tomorrow, February 28^th, with the first pitch set for 2:00 PM. All three games will be broadcast on the Queens Sports Network this weekend. Admission is required at the gate.
 
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.