North Georgia scored two runs in the first inning of play with a two-run homer by Leslee Smith. Queens was unable to connect for a hit in the second or third innings, but that changed in the fourth inning of play.

 

Maria Goode (Charlotte, N.C., Providence) singled to shortstop Kasey Knight and advanced to second on the next Queens at-bat. Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) picked up her eighth extra-base hit of the season, a double, to drive in Goode, cutting the host's lead in half. Ashley Wilson (North Pole, Alaska, North Pole) entered to pinch run for Lathbury and quickly advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sarah Phillips. With the scoring run on third, Queens' Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) grounded out to end the inning.

 

Before the bottom of the fourth inning, Jester was moved into the pitching role for Queens and Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawhatchee) became the Royals' designated hitter.

 

Katherine Martin added a run for the Saints with a home run to start the inning. Pilar Harden reached on a defensive error and was able to advance to second on the play. Natasha Willemse singled on the next at-bat and earned the RBI when Harden scored, increasing the lead to three, 4-1. Queens closed the inning leaving two Saints on base.

 

After the fourth, the game was delayed until 10:55pm due to lightning in the area.

 

Following the restart, each team added one more hit, but neither scored any runs.

 

In total, Queens had three hits to the Saints eight. Dodge takes the loss returning to the circle in during the fifth inning. Phillips earns the win for the home team.

 

The Royals face Carson Newman at 5pm on Saturday, May 15. The game is an elimination game as each team has suffered their first loss on Friday. The Saints host Francis Marion at 2:30pm on Saturday.