WILSON, N.C.- A sweep of the Barton Bulldogs in Wilson, N.C. gives the Queens Royals a 7-5 Conference Carolinas record and puts them fourth in the standings with just six games to play on the regular season. The Royals (15-13) defeated Barton (16-20/2-6 CC) by scores of 5-2 and 9-3.
The Royals – who are the two-time reigning Conference Carolinas Tournament Champions – ripped 26 hits on the day. Freshman
Kaitlyn Cheek (Richmond, Va,, JR Tucker ) led Queens with five hits including three doubles. Classmate
Emma Schultz (Silver Spring, Md., Paint Branch) and senior
Maria Goode (Charlotte, N.C., Providence) each added four base knocks. Senior
Alisha Waldrop (McDonough, Ga., Luella) drove in a total of five Royals runs with three hits including the only home run of the afternoon.
Both senior Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) and junior Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawhatchee) earned a win from in the circle. The appearance of Dodge in the second games marks the first time she has pitched since Feb. 26 when she suffered an injury.
Queens will travel to Mount Olive on Sunday, April 3 for another twin bill.
Game 1
Queens 5, Barton 2
Queens posted a single run in the second as Jester started the inning with a single. With a sacrifice bunt and two singles, Jester made a complete trip around the diamond to score.
The Royals used another three-run inning in the fourth to score a single run and go up 2-0.
In the fifth, singles from Jester and Waldrop brought in another run for the Royals, this time Barton answered back. In the second half of the inning Barton scored their first run of the game.
Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) had the biggest hit for Queens with a gap shot into left-center that scored the Royals final two runs in the sixth.
Barton had the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh but Jester ended the contest with a strikeout.
Queens collected 12 hits, all singles. Goode had two hits, one RBI and scored one run. Waldrop contributed one hit, scored one run and picked up a RBI.
Jester (9-11) had eight strikeouts and only gave up one run in the fifth and seventh innings for her 19th complete game of the season.
Game 2
A three-run homer by Waldrop in the third inning opened up a close game as Queens completed the sweep with a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.
Waldrop drove in the Royals first run with a double in the second that plated Cheek, who led off the frame with her own double. Cheek was 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBI.
Barton pulled to within two, 5-2, with two runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth.
Queens responded with a couple runs in both the sixth and seventh innings and Jester returned to the mound with two scoreless innings of relief to end Barton's comeback chances. Jester fanned three more Bulldogs for 11 K's on the day, which increased her conference leading total to 124.
Dodge – the reigning Co-Pitcher of the Year in the league – picked up the win. Dodge (6-3) tossed the first five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while recording a pair of strikeouts.
