CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Queens softball team handed the top-seeded Limestone Saints their league first loss of the season in a 1-0 Conference Carolinas victory, but the Saints evened the slate with a 2-1 eight inning win. Queens now holds a conference record of 7-2 behind Erskine, 7-1, and Limestone, 9-1

Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawhatchee) threw her third no-hitter of the year, second in conference play, in the 1-0 victory. Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) started the second game and went five innings striking out two and giving up six hits. Dodge finished the extra-inning outing and takes the loss.

Queens faces cross-town rival Belmont Abbey on April 1 at the Abbey. First pitch is scheduled for 2pm.

Game one
It was a battle of defense after Queens posted the lone run of the game in the second inning.

Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) singled to drive in her 16th run of the year to give Queens the 1-0 lead. Lathbury's 16th RBI ties her for the team-leading position of RBIs with Megan Campbell (Raleigh, N.C., Athens Drive).

The Queens defense had an error-free game, while Limestone committed one error in the game.

Limestone put four runners on base, three with walks and one was hit by a pitch. 

Lathbury led the Royals with two of the five hits off of Emily Wallace.

Game two
Both teams scored their first runs of the game in the third inning.

Queens' run came from single home run by Dodge. The home run is Dodge's fourth of the year.

Limestone posted their run hitting three singles and stealing bases to get into scoring position. Jordan Smith's single drove in the game-tying run.

In the next four innings Limestone had four hits and Queens two.

It was the bottom of the eighth when the stalemate was broken by the Saints' Wallace. Wallace started the inning on second base and was advance to third after Kelsey Kuykendall hit a sacrifice bunt and Kayla Hamalainen singled to drive in the winning run.

The Royals hit five off of Leah Quant. Quant struck out seven.