FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 9 | West Georgia 8
Records: Queens (7-20 overall, 3-6 ASUN) | West Georgia (8-20 overall, 5-4 ASUN)
Location: The Stick (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY
After seeing a five-run lead slip away in the top of the ninth inning, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team never wavered as Lenox Lively stepped in as a pinch hitter and blasted a two-run shot over the fence in right center to walk it off in the series finale against West Georgia. A rare milestone was reached in the victory as Anibal Rivera became the second Royal in program history to hit for the cycle, joining Matthew Corlew's performance in 2024.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens jumped on West Georgia in the bottom of the second inning with three runs on two hits. Anibal Rivera led off the inning with a triple to right-center for his second triple of the season. Charlie Marcantel and Avery Booker worked walks before Dylan Schaefer worked a seven-pitch walk to bring in Rivera. The Wolves picked up the second out of the inning with a strikeout, but Hunter Huneycutt wouldn't let the visitors escape as the redshirt sophomore drove a two-run single up the middle to cap off the scoring.
-The Royals manufactured another run in the bottom of the third inning. Anibal Rivera sent a high fly ball into center field, which was lost in the sun by the Wolves center fielder as he reached with a one-out double. Rivera swiped third, and Charlie Marcantel drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center field to extend the Royals lead to 4-0.
-Queens added onto their lead in the bottom of the seventh inning as Dylan Schaefer opened the frame with a leadoff triple to right center. Grayson Childers followed it by sending the first pitch he saw off the fence in left-center and hustling out an RBI triple.
-West Georgia chipped away at the deficit in the top of the eighth inning as Fano Cruz set the tone with a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw. With a runner on first and one out, Gabe Wuerth laced a single to center field, and a fielding error brought around the second run of the inning as the Royals lead was back down to 5-2.
-Queens answered right back in the bottom of the eighth inning. Anibal Rivera, needing a home run to complete the cycle, stepped in and sent a 1-0 pitch opposite field over the left field fence to complete the rare milestone. Two batters later, Avery Booker fell behind 0-2, but drove a pitch down the left field line for his first career home run.
-Trailing 7-2 and down to their final three outs, West Georgia wouldn't back down as two free passes and a double loaded the bases with no outs. Fano Cruz stepped in and belted the first pitch he saw over the center field fence for a grand slam and cut the deficit back down to one. Queens turned to reliever Jake Young, and the freshman picked up a pivotal strikeout. However, Andon Lewis stepped in and turned on the first pitch he saw, driving it over the left field fence to tie the game 7-7. With runners on first and second and two outs, Blake Bradford got enough of a 1-2 pitch to single up the middle and plate the go-ahead run.
-Looking to respond in the bottom of the ninth inning, Hunter Huneycutt got the rally started with an infield single. Head Coach Jake Hendrick turned to Lenox Lively as a pinch hitter, and the move proved to be the difference. After getting ahead in the count 2-0, Lively found a pitch up in the zone and got it into the Charlotte sky. After watching a pair of Wolves homers carry over the fence in the top half of the inning, the Royals watched as Lively's traveled over the fence in right center as Queens completed the late comeback for their third walk-off win of the season.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Anibal Rivera sparked the Royals offense with a 4-for-4 day as the senior hit for the program's second cycle.
-Jackson Gowan twirled a career-high 8.0 innings, allowing five runs on six hits. The right-hander kept the Wolves offense in check for eight innings, which included retiring 21 straight.
-Hunter Huneycutt recorded his third multi-hit game of the season, and second of the weekend series, with a 3-for-4 day, including two RBI. Huneycutt also swiped four bags, which tied the single-game program record.
-Grayson Childers and Dylan Schaefer both turned in triples on the day. Childers has recorded a hit in 11 of the last 12 games.
-Avery Booker got his second straight start in the lineup and blasted his first collegiate home run.
-Lenox Lively came in as a pinch hitter in the ninth and provided the key swing, blasting his second home run of the season.
-The Royals offense laced three triples on the day, which tied the single-game program record.
-Fano Cruz led the West Georgia offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including two home runs and five RBI.

NEXT UP
Queens will turn their attention to a lengthy road stretch as eight of their next nine games will be away from The Stick. The stretch will get underway on Tuesday, March 31^st at Elon University. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on FloCollege.
 
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.