CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Although leading 8-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth, the Lander baseball team fell to Queens (N.C.) 9-8 in the first of two games this weekend against the Royals.

Lander falls to 1-4 while Queens moved to 4-2 overall.

The Bearcats started hot to begin the game as Vincent DeRubeis and Ian Jenkins both smashed bombs over the right-field fence to put Lander up 2-0 after the first inning.

Lander would strike again in the third, with four runs coming around this time. Chandler Moeller scored the first run of the inning with a double to right, while Tyler Prell and Mason Streater were hit by pitches to bring in two more runs. Ethan Wilder brought the final run of the inning home on a sac fly to left-center to give Lander a 6-0 edge.

Queens would plate its first run in the fifth inning to make it a 6-1 contest before Streater sent a double to right-center field to put Lander up 7-1 in the top of the seventh. Queens would counter with a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the inning to make it a 7-2 contest.

A throwing error in the eighth inning would up Lander up 8-2, but the Royals would find a way to score seven runs with two outs in the bottom of the nineth to spoil the Bearcats day.

Bryce Jackson got the start and went five innings. He struck out five while allowing just one earned run off five hits.

Garrett Major allowed six runs, all unearned, on three hits while Braeden Burton was credited with the loss.

Lander battles Queens once more on Sunday, as the two teams are set for a 1 pm start.

#cLawsUp | @LanderBaseball