Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte softball team took to the diamond today against the No. 8 Armstrong Atlantic State University Pirates. The Royals were able to split the doubleheader picking up their first win against a ranked opponent this year.

In the first game the Royals were led by freshman pitcher Amanda Rodriguez (Bear Creek, N.C., Chatham Central), who picked up her first collegiate win in style. Throughout the game she kept the Pirates off balance and limited their potent offense to only seven hits. 

“Amanda did such a good job commanding all of her pitches. She played with focus and determination, and beat a great team. I have been waiting for Amanda to arrive, and I believe today she did,” said Head Coach Miranda Ervin.

Rodriguez was backed by strong offensive performances by Whitney Britt (Gibson, N.C., Scotland) and Kaitlyn Cheek (Richmond, Va., JR Tucker ) who each went 2-3 for the game. It was the third inning where the Royals were able to score all their runs on a Britt two-run homer and an RBI single by Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawhatchee). The Royals were unable to score any more runs the rest of the game, but that turned out to be enough for Queens to win the game 3-1.

The following game was one in which the Royals found themselves in an eight run hole following the third inning. Yet, the Royals never gave up and eventually scrapped together five runs on nine hits before falling by the score of 13-5. Brittany Harrell (Morganton, N.C., Freedom) led the way with three hits, while Amanda Meade (Bristow, Va., Osbourn Park) and Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del., Sussex Central) followed with two hits apiece.

Following the game Coach Ervin was quick to point out the team's attitude and mental toughness. 

“I am so proud of my team's effort and their never say die attitude. They fought and scrapped for every run and out they got. I am lucky to get to coach a team full of fighters, and today was an exciting day for Queens softball.”

Queens currently stands at 10-17 on the season and travels to Erskine College Saturday to open conference play.