FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 7 | North Florida 3
Records: Queens (8-21 overall, 4-6 ASUN) | North Florida (16-14 overall, 8-2 ASUN)
Location: Harmon Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
 
THE SHORT STORY
After plating six runs over the first two innings and jumping out to an early lead, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team saw timely pitching as the Royals routed the Ospreys 7-3 in the series opener on Thursday night. North Florida sprayed eight hits on the night and applied constant pressure, but the Royals pitching staff executed in key moments and escaped multiple jams to strand 11 Osprey runners on the bases.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens jumped on North Florida early, plating one run on two hits. Grayson Childers roped a one-out double down the right field line to put the first Royal of the day in scoring position. After Lenox Lively worked a two-out walk, Thomas Mathay stepped in and hit an RBI single through the left side to plate Childers for the early lead.
-The Royals erupted in the top of the second inning with five runs on six hits and one North Florida error. Dylan Schaefer got the big inning started with a double down the left field line before advancing to third on an errant pickoff. Hunter Huneycutt reached on a fielder's choice as Schaefer beat out the throw to the plate. After the Ospreys picked off Huneycutt for the second out of the inning, Queens went to work with two outs. Grayson Childers, Anibal Rivera, Lenox Lively, and Thomas Mathay ripped consecutive singles, which brought home three runs in that span. Bradley Brown followed with a two-run double down the right field line to cap off the scoring and give Queens an early 6-0 lead.
-North Florida chipped away at the deficit in the bottom of the second inning. Jackson Toberman led off the inning with a walk before Drew Buchanan sent a two-run home run to left center to cut the deficit down to 6-2.
-The Ospreys inched closer in the bottom of the sixth inning as Carter White led off the inning with a solo home run. North Florida loaded the bases with one out, but Queens reliever Owen Shipman picked up a 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam and keep the Royals ahead 6-3.
-Queens added on an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning, capitalizing on an Ospreys error. After Matthew Suppa reached second on an errant throw by the Ospreys third baseman, the Royals loaded the bases with two outs as Mitchell Basterrechea was hit by a pitch and Dyland Schaefer worked a walk. Hunter Huneycutt stepped in and delivered an RBI single to center field to provide one final run for the Royals.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Grayson Childers stayed hot, recording his fifth multi-hit game and first three-hit performance of the season. Childers roped a pair of doubles and worked a walk on the night.
-Thomas Mathay turned in his sixth multi-hit game, and second straight with a 2-for-5 evening, including two RBI.
-Dylan Schaefer posted a 1-for-3 game, including his sixth double of the season. Schaefer has now roped an extra-base hit in four straight games.
-Hunter Huneycutt, Anibal Rivera, Lenox Lively, and Bradley Brown rounded out the Royals offense with a hit. Rivera extended his hitting streak to five straight games.
-Sophomore Matthew Eagen picked up his second win of the season, twirling 5.1 innings in his eighth start, and surrendered three runs on six hits while striking out three Ospreys.
-Jake Young made his 10^th appearance out of the bullpen and picked up his third save of the season. The right-hander shut the door on the Ospreys with 2.0 scoreless innings and four strikeouts.
-Despite allowing 10 hits, the Ospreys pitching staff struck out 13 Royals.

NEXT UP
Queens and North Florida will return to action tomorrow, April 3^rd at 6:00 p.m. for game two of the series. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN+.
 
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.