CHARLOTTE, N.C.- With just three Conference Carolinas doubleheaders left, Queens softball continues to roll with solid league wins including the sweep over Barton College Friday afternoon at Park Road Park. The Royals improve to 11-2 in league play, 20-17 overall, and move into second place in the conference with the 2-1 and 6-1 victories today. Barton drops to 2-8 in conference and 11-22 overall.
Queens faces Anderson, Pfeiffer and Coker in the remaining three contests. Anderson is sitting just behind the Royals in third place while Pfeiffer is seventh and Coker eighth, respectively.
The Royals travel to the Trojans on Wednesday, April 7.
Game One
The first inning passed without either team registering any hits, but Barton changed that in the second. Kendall Street led off the inning with a single, followed up with a single by Rebeka Morgan. Elizabeth Webb was walked to load the bases, but Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawhatchee) rang up the last two batters to end the inning.
Barton struck first in the third scoring their only run of the game. Jessica McFadden singled with a bunt, but was able to advance to second on an error by Queens shortstop Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central). McFadden was able to take third on a passed ball and finished rounding the bases on a Street single to give Barton a 1-0 lead.
The Royals evened the score in the fourth using two hits to score one run. Keeya Turner (Fayetteville, N.C., 71st) was second up batter up in the inning and singled to center field. Megan Campbell (Raleigh, N.C., Athens Drive) hit her seventh double of the season to earn her 20th RBI as Turner crossed the plate.
In the sixth Queens notched the game-winning run. Turner reached on an error by Barton's right fielder Natalie Phipps and was able to advance to third. Turner scored on the next play when Webb balked, giving Queens the 2-1 lead.
Barton left one on in the seventh after Kelly Sale was hit by a pitch, but the remaining batters couldn't get a hit off of Dodge.
Dodge pitched all seven innings striking out 11 of 26 batters faced and gave up six hits.
Street started and pitched six of seven innings. She struck out two of 19 batters faced and gave up all four Queens hits. Webb was called into finish the game in the seventh.
The Royals offense had four hits from four different players. Barton totaled six hits with McFadden, Street and Morgan each having two.
Game Two
Queens struck first in the second game, scoring one run in the second. With one out on the board, Lathbury was walked and Dodge grounded into a fielder's choice to advance Lathbury into scoring position. Starting pitcher Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) doubled down the right field line as close as possible without being called foul to drive in Lathbury. A lineout by Carrie Beth Richie (Fayetteville, N.C., Northwood Temple Academy) ended the inning.
The score was knotted at one in the top of the third. McFadden reached on an error by Campbell and then stole second base. Street singled two batters later and then forced the squeeze to bring McFadden home. Street was called out at second.
In the fourth Waldrop led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second when Lathbury reached on an error by the first baseman. Ashley Wilson (North Pole, Alaska, North Pole) came into run for Lathbury. Dodge had another sacrifice play advancing both runners. Waldrop and Wilson played the defense advancing another base at the same time. Waldrop was caught in a run down, but after being hit in the back on a poor throw from third to home and the ball rolling away, she was able to score. Jester switched up and hit one through the left side to drive in Wilson. Maria Goode (Charlotte, N.C., Providence) reached on an error by third base and advanced Jester to second, but the inning closed leaving both runners on.
Turner rounded the bases in the fifth after singling then advancing to second before Barton could get set for the next batter. Campbell grounded out allowing Turner to advance to third. She scored on a passed ball, giving Queens a 4-1 advantage.
Jester gave up one hit in the sixth and the inning turned with two groundouts and a popup.
In the sixth Jester was walked to start the inning and was replaced with Megan Rollins (Salem, Ore., South Salem) to run the bases. Richie reached first on an error by Stacy Wade and then stole second as Rollins was able to advance to third on the earlier play. On the next play Rollins scored when catcher Sale committed an error. Goode advanced Richie with a sacrifice play and Amanda Bowman (Kernersville, N.C., Glenn) followed with a sacrifice fly to bring Richie in.
Queens held Barton in the seventh with Jester closing the inning with a strike out of Shanna parker.
Jester rang up eight batters with strike outs and gave up five hits. Cynthia Burroughs started the game for Barton and lasted 3.2 innings. Burroughs faced 14 batters, struck out three and gave up three hits and three runs. Street came in for the last 2.1 innings and gave up one hit and three runs.
In addition to pitching a solid game, Jester led the Royals at the plate with two of the team's four hits. Waldrop and Turner each had one in the win.
Barton hit five with Street leading the way with two.
