CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Royals softball team suffered its first league loss since falling to top-seeded Limestone on March 29. The Anderson Trojans swept Queens in Conference Carolinas action by scores of 7-2 and 10-2 (5) to drop the Royals into third place in the league with a record of 11-4, 20-19 overall. Anderson is now in second place, holding a 9-3 league record, 19-13 overall.
Game One
The Trojans struck first, scoring one in the opening inning. Kasey King hit a single to right center field, allowing Meredith Knox to score after Knox hit a double.
The Royals were able to connect just once in each of the seven innings with the exception of the second, where they did not have any hits, and the seventh, where they had three hits.
Queens pitcher
Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawhatchee) held the Trojans off as long as she could after the first, giving up nine hits in the game, but striking out 10 batters.
A two-run homer in the fourth by Kinsley Durham added to the hosts lead and started a three-inning scoring run. Knox hit her second double of the game in the fifth and earned another run when Emily Monteith doubled to left field. Three more were added in the sixth from three hits giving Anderson a 7-0 lead.
Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) came to the plate with one out and connected for a double to center field.
Carrie Beth Richie (Fayetteville, N.C., Northwood Temple Academy) singled allowing
Megan Rollins (Salem, Ore., South Salem), who came in to run for Jester, to take third followed by home when Anderson committed an error. Richie scored after
Maria Goode (Charlotte, N.C., Providence) grounded out to third and
Amanda Bowman (Kernersville, N.C,, Glenn) doubled for the RBI.
Keeya Turner (Fayetteville, N.C., 71st) grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Dodge's counterpart Katie Van Gieso allowed eight hits, Jester and Bowman each with two, and struck out two batters.
Game Two
Queens started game two on the right foot by posting two runs in the first inning. Bowman singled as the second batter in the game and then scored as Turner doubled on the next at bat. Turner advanced to third on an error by Moneith.
Megan Campbell (Raleigh, N.C., Athens Drive) put a single in center field to drive in Turner for the 2-0 lead.
The two teams traded single hits through the next two and a half innings when Anderson's offense came alive with five hits for four runs in the bottom of the third.
The Trojans, whose lead-off batter was the second batter of the inning, used three singles, two doubles and a walk to drive in the four runs.
One inning later the Trojans were in the same place in the lineup and again, the top of the order did Queens in. Knox picked up three RBIs with a three-run homer. Cameron White hit a double with the bases loaded, driving in three runs and giving Anderson a 10-2 lead.
It was all up to the Royals in the fifth inning, if no runs crossed the plate, the game would be over. At the top of the order, Queens was only able to get Bowman on with a walk.
Jester was pitching for Queens striking out five, walking two and allowing 13 hits. Donya Cobb gave up six hits and struck out three. Of the Royals six hits, Jester had two.
