FIRST PITCH
Score: West Georgia 10 | Queens 9
Records: UWG (7-19 overall, 4-3 ASUN) | Queens (6-19 overall, 2-5 ASUN)
Location: The Stick Williams Dream Fields (Charlotte, N.C.) 

THE SHORT STORY
In the first meeting of the season between Queens University of Charlotte and West Georgia, the visiting Wolves used a late surge, plating six runs over the final three innings to storm from behind in take the series opener on Friday night. Despite the loss, Queens rattled off a season-high 14 hits with five Royals turning in multi-hit performances.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-To open the game, the Wolves plated two runs on two hits while capitalizing on a Royals error in the first inning. With one out, David Bell drew a walk before Patrick McCullough singled up the middle, advancing Bell to third. Andon Lewis followed with a single to left field to bring home the first run and advanced McCullough to third. Andon Lewis then stole second before McCullough scored on a throwing error, giving the Wolves an early 2-0 lead. Queens escaped the innings without further damages.
-The Royals answered right back with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. To lead off, Grayson Childers drew a walk following Hunter Huneycutt's single to center field to put runners on first and second. The Royals loaded the bases before Mitchell Basterrechea launched a grand slam to give Queens an early 4-2 lead. The Wolves got out of the inning at a crucial moment with one out after the grand slam.
-The Royals added to their lead in the bottom of the second, scoring one run on two hits. Grayson Childers drew his second walk of the night before Hunter Huneycutt continued staying hot, singling to right field putting two Royals on base. With two outs, Thomas Mathay recorded an RBI single to right center while Huneycutt advanced to third before the Wolves escaped the inning.
-The Wolves answered back in the fourth with one run on one hit to cut the deficit down to one. The Royals responded as Grayson Childers lead off the inning, launching a homerun to right center to give the Royals a 6-4 lead. The next inning, Charlie Marcantel singled to center field and Grayson Childers stayed hot with an RBI double to left center.
-The Royals extended their lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the sixth after Thomas Mathay recorded an RBI single to pull Bradley Brown around to score. In the top of the seventh, West Georgia responded with three runs on three hits to trim the deficit to 8-7. Blake Bradford and Gabe Wuerth reached via free pass before David Bell and Patrick McCullough delivered back-to-back RBI singles. Andon Lewis rounded out the offense with a sacrifice fly to left center.
-The Wolves tied it up 8-8 in a crucial moment in the top of the eighth with one run on one hit. With two runners on base, David Bell secured an RBI single down the left field line just before the Royals escaped the inning. The Wolves followed it up again in the ninth, extending their lead to 9-8, with two runs on two hits. With no outs and one runner on base, Anthony Cole singled down the left field line and Andon Lewis came around to score on a defensive miscue by the Royals. Fano Cruz rounded out the inning with an RBI single to right center.
-In the bottom of the ninth, the Royals put together one run on two hits, but came up short 10-9. To lead off the bottom of the ninth, Mitchell Basterrechea singled to left field before Charlie Marcantel drew a walk. With two Royals on base, Jacob Grimes hit an RBI single to left field. With the tying run on second base and one out, the Wolves closer picked up a strikeout and a fielder's choice to end the inning and halt the Royals comeback effort.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Queens starter Matthew Eagen pitched 5.2 innings, only allowing two earned runs with a career high six strikeouts.
- Grayson Childers led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance with three runs, two RBI's, one double, and one homerun. The multi-hit performance was his fourth of the year as he blasted his team-leading fifth home run of the season.
- Thomas Mathay was a key factor offensively with a season-high three hits and two RBI's.
-Hunter Huneycutt chipped in with two hits for his second multi-hit game of the season.
-Mitchell Basterrechea stayed hot at the plate, turning in a 2-for-5 night, including a grand slam.
-Jacob Grimes notched his first multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 night, including an RBI single in the ninth.
-Bradley Brown, Anibal Rivera, and Charlie Marcantel each rounded out the offense with a hit.

NEXT UP
Queens return to action tomorrow, March 28^th, for the second game of the series against West Georgia, beginning at 2:00 PM. Admission is required at the gate.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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