CHARLOTTE, N.C.- On a cold and dreary 2010 home-opener the Queens University of Charlotte's softball team earned its first win of the season in a 4-3 victory over Columbus State University. The win improves Queens to 1-2 and Columbus State falls to 0-1 on the season with the loss.

The double-header was cut to just the first game as the weather conditions continued to decline.

Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) led the Royals with three hits on four at bats and posted one RBI. Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawhatchee) had one RBI and was 2-3 while at the plate. 
 
Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) earned her first win as the starting pitcher for Queens. Jester struck out seven batters and gave up six hits.

The Cougars six hits came from six different batters. Kristi Bullard and Rocky Hemmer each homered in the contest.

Bullard started the scoring off when she gave the Cougars the 1-0 lead with her homerun in the top of the second. Columbus State tacked on one more in the inning to go up 2-0.

Queens evened the score an inning later. After Maria Goode (Charlotte, N.C., Providence) singled, Keeya Turner (Fayetteville, N.C., 71st ) and Lathbury placed perfect bunts in the infield to advance the respective runners around the bases. With the bases loaded Britni McCall walked Jester, bringing in Goode. Queens brought one more in as McCall hit Carrie Beth Richie (Fayetteville, N.C., Northwood Temple Academy), forcing the runners around the bases. Dodge flied out to end the inning with Queens and Columbus State tied at two.

Lathbury drove in a run in the next inning for Queens to take the lead 3-2. The Royals added their final run in the fifth after leadoff batter Alisha Waldrop reached with a single and the offense drove her around the bases for the score. Dodge hit a single to bring Waldrop home.

Columbus State started the sixth inning with a shot directly over the centerfield fence by Hemmer. The homer was the only offense the Cougars could get going as three batters struck out and on reached base with a walk.

The Royals defense closed the game in the seventh, ending the game and giving Queens the win.

Queens has a busy rest of the weekend as they travel to Carson-Newman on Saturday and return to Park Road Park to host USC-Aiken at 2pm on Sunday.