CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Queens softball extended its winning streak to seven this afternoon at Park Road Park as it picked up two wins over Chowan University. The Royals (12-13/4-0 CC) picked up the first decision in a definitive 5-0 win and a run in the bottom of the sixth lifted Queens over Chowan (16-14) 1-0 in the second.

For the second consecutive set of games the Royals defense was on point. The pitching staff, Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawatchee) and Brittany Stephens (Charlotte, N.C., Hickory Grove Baptist), gave up just three hits in during the afternoon while the infield and outfield completed error-free games.

The offense wasn't lacking as the team connected 15 times on the day.

Queens hosts No. 17 Francis Marion on Sunday at 1pm.

Game 1
The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Lead-off hitter Mary Lee Giurintano (Greensboro, N.C. , Glenn ) reached first after being walked and second batter Amanda Bowman (Kernersville, N.C,, Glenn) reached with a single. Kari Kmetic (Milwaukie, Ore., Putnam) advanced the runners while grounding out. Alisha Waldrop (McDonough, GA , Luella ) stepped up and singled driving in the two players on base. Waldrop currently leads the team with 13 RBIs.

In their second chance at the plate, Queens drove in one run, this time from Bowman. Bowman singled to left field driving in Audra Littlejohn (Riverside, Calif., Centennial ). The Royals threatened with three more runners on base, but Chowan's pitcher Shellie Wimpey got the Hawks out of the inning without giving up any more hits.

Dodge put the first inning away with three strikeouts and struck two of three out in the second.

The first five batters of the third inning got on base with Keeya Turner (Fayetteville, N.C., 71st ) hitting a single to bring in the third run of the game. Queens recorded three hits in the inning, all singles.

In the fourth and fifth Dodge struck out each batter that stepped up to the plate.

Queens scored their last run of the game in the fifth with the combination of Turner and Giurintano. Turner singled and stole second and Giurintano's double brought her home.

Two groundouts and a strikeout from Chowan ended the game in the top of the seventh.

Dodge tied her career best 16 Ks in the game and gave up two singles. Of the Royals' nine hits, three batters recorded two hits apiece, Bowman, Waldrop and Turner.

Wimpey struck out seven batters for the Hawks.

Game 2
It was a battle of pitchers to start the second game. Neither team gave up a hit until the third inning of play. Stephens made it through six and two-thirds innings before giving up her only hit of the day.

Littlejohn was the first to connect. She singled and was able to advance to second on the next play, but was left on base at the end of the inning.

The Royals one hit in each of the next two innings, but couldn't get the offense in gear to bring the runners around.

In the sixth it all came together for Queens. Bowman led off, getting on base with a single. Kmetic followed up with another single. Megan Campbell (Raleigh, N.C., Athens Drive ) did her part with a sacrifice bunt to put the both runners in scoring position. A Stephens' single drove in one RBI and almost two, but Kmetic was thrown out at home to end the inning. 

The Hawks threatened with a double, but Stephens put the batters away, holding on to the 1-0 lead.
Six different players connected for Queens' six hits.

Mindy Byrd had Chowan's only hit of the game. Pitcher Allie Kolezynski struck out two and gave up six hits.