CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawatchee) hit her first career home run in grand fashion today as the Royals battled No. 17 Francis Marion University. With the bases loaded, Dodge battled at the plate and was able to put one over the fence, hitting the Royals first grand slam of the season. The four runs in the first were enough for Queens to upset FMU 4-2 in the second contest of a non-conference twinbill. The win salvages the afternoon for the Royals (13-14/4-0 CC) who dropped the first game 4-2 to the Patriots (23-8/5-3 PBC).

The win puts Queens two ahead of their wins in 2008, 11-28. The loss in game one snaps a seven-game winning streak, but Queens has a chance to start another on Wednesday as they host non-conference opponent Brevard at 5pm.

Queens' offense had a combined 10 hits with no player having more than two on the day. Pitchers Dodge and Brittany Stephens (Charlotte, N.C., Hickory Grove Baptist) struck out a combined seven batters.  

Game 1
The Patriots came out swinging in the first game, scoring three on the Royals on their first at bat. With two on, Ashley Jaramillo put one over the fence. The homer is the first since March 7, when Newberry College hit one.

The Royals did not take the three-run first inning lying down.  After lead-off hitter Mary Lee Giurintano (Greensboro, N.C. , Glenn ) was walked, she was advanced to second with a sac-bunt by Amanda Bowman (Kernersville, N.C,, Glenn). Two batters later Megan Campbell (Raleigh, N.C., Athens Drive ) singled to centerfield driving Giurintano in. At the end of the inning Queens left two on.

Dodge gave up just one hit to the Patriots in the next three innings, while the Royals' bats connect on two pitches. Audra Littlejohn (Riverside, Calif., Centennial ) singled to leftfield in the second. The second hit came from the bat of Kari Kmetic (Milwaukie, Ore., Putnam). As the lead-off batter in the third, Kmetic put a shot over the centerfield fence to put Queens just one run behind Francis Marion. The homer is the first for Kmetic  in the 2009 season.

In the fifth Francis Marion's Kayla hit the second home run of the game, giving FMU a 4-2 lead.

Queens had the opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth, leaving three batters on at the end of the inning. In the sixth and seventh the Royals weren't able to connect to come back for the win.

Dodge, 8-9 this season, threw six strikeouts and gave up seven hits. Giurintano picked off Maria Goode as she was trying to steal second.

Patrioits' pitcher Michaela Wolf struck out eight and gave up five hits. Queens was able to steal two bases while on offense, one from Alisha Waldrop (McDonough, GA , Luella ) and the other from Campbell.

Game 2
The first four batters for Queens all reached base safely. Three of the four hits singles, Giuritano, Bowman and Kmetic, while Campbell reached on a fielder's choice. On the fielder's choice Giurintano was thrown out at home.

The bases were cleared by Dodge's grand slam.

Queens held off the visitor's offense until the fifth. The Patriots paired two doubles together to bring in a run.

Strong defense by Queens held the Patriots to just one run in the sixth. Campbell helped turn two outs in the infield, getting one runner out at second and covering first to get another runner out.

Stephens put one away with a strikeout and gave up 11 hits. The team turned two double plays in the game, giving them five on the season. 

Lauren Buebek gave up five hits and struck out two. On the offensive side, the Patriots had three players with two hits.