CHARLOTTE, N.C.- In nonconference action at Park Road Park the host, Queens University of Charlotte Royals, lost to the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears in softball action. The Royals (2-9) fell by scores of 3-0 and 10-1 (6) to the Bears (4-0).
Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) got the start in game one and gave up nine hits but matched the hit count with nine strike outs, her second highest number of Ks this season. Kelsey Newberg (New Britain, Conn., New Britain) had a rough go of it in her first appearance this season. Newberg started game two, pitching 3.1 innings, giving up seven hits and five runs, while striking out two. Jester came in to finish the second game.
Leading the Royals at the plate was second baseman Megan Campbell (Raleigh, N.C., Athens Drive ) with two hits in the second game.
LRU's Megan Laxton and Brandi Haithcock each collected four hits with Laxton picking up three RBIs. The two pitchers each threw complete games. Dawon Millwood got the start in the first game giving up two hits and striking out 13 batters. Alex Smith pitched six innings in the second game holding the Royals to five hits and striking out six.
Queens travels to Mars Hill College on Friday for a doubleheader that starts at 2pm.
Game 1
The Bears used three single run innings to earn the 3-0 win over Queens. The first run came in the third inning when a single by Sarah Atkins drove in Tameron Sealy for the 1-0 lead.
An error in the fifth led to an unearned run by Sealy in the fifth to expand the lead to two. The Bears would add a final run in the sixth.
Queens' defense did a good job of holding the Bears to just one run in the scoring innings. For the game the Royals forced LRU to leave nine runners on base.
Game 2
Of the 14 hits Queens gave up in the game, four came in the first inning, but the third hit of the game is what did the Royals in. With the bases loaded Ashley Duckworth hit a grand slam to give the Bears a 4-0 lead. The play before Queens tagged Sealy at home or else the score could have been 5-0.
The Royals put their only run on the board in the third after Keeya Turner (Fayetteville, N.C., 71st ) reached with a single up the middle and stole second base while Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) was batting. A Lathbury walk and a Campbell single loaded the bases. Alicia Waldrop (McDonough, GA , Luella ) was walked on the next play forcing Turner home.
In the final three innings LRU scored two runs, one run, and three runs to take a 10-1 lead. The Royals had to answer back in the bottom of the sixth to keep the game alive, but were unable to get a rally going.
The early conclusion of the game was the third time in four games for Lenoir-Rhyne. In their opening games against Glenville State on Friday, the Bears won by scores of 8-0 (6) and 11-2 (5).
