Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens softball team returned home to Park Road Park today to face off against the Patriots of Francis Marion today. In game one the Royals struggled offensively and lost 8-0, but the Royals rebounded behind the long ball and picked up a 6-3 win.
 
Game one
 
The story of the first game of the doubleheader was the dominating performance of the Francis Marion pitcher Taylor Luff. From the circle she appeared to always be a step in front of the Royals, and ended the six inning game with a no hitter.
 
Unable to get their bats going the Royals, also faced a potent offense from Francis Marion. The Royals were outhit 10-0 and dropped the shortened game by the score 8-0.
 
Game two
 
In game one pitcher Ashley Rollins (Fairfax, Va., Fairfax) was able to hold the Patriots' potent offense in check until the fifth inning, when three Francis Marion runs crossed the plate. But true to form it was the always clutch Kaitlyn Cheek (Richmond, Va., JR Tucker ) who pounded a three run homerun off the light pole in left center to even the score in the sixth inning.
 
Following a pitching change by the Patriots it was Amanda Meade (Bristow, Va., Osbourn Park) turn for some heroics. With two strikes she pounded a ball over the fence for a three run home run to give the Royals a 6-3 lead.
 
In the seventh it was Kaitlyn Bodine (Scottsville, Va., Monticello) in her second inning in relief who held the Patriots scoreless, and picked up a win from the circle. The Royals were led offensively by Whitney Britt (Gibson, N.C., Scotland) who had three hits in the game.
 
Following today's games the Royals are 11-16 overall and 2-4 in conference play. Royals play next when they travel to Mars Hill this Saturday.