WINGATE, N.C. – Freshman starting pitcher
Courtney Pearson led Queens University of Charlotte to a doubleheader split at Wingate University on Wednesday, March 29 at the WU Softball Complex.
The Royals (15-20, 1-7) finally got their first South Atlantic Conference victory of the season as they defeated the home-standing Bulldogs (19-15, 6-2) 5-1 in the second two of today's doubleheader. Wingate took game one, 5-0.
Game Two: Queens 5, Wingate 1
After dropping the first game of the doubleheader, Queens felt the urgency to finally get that first SAC victory of the season.
That urgency emerged as patience as the Royals loaded the bases on three straight walks in the top of the first inning. Unfortunately, QU was unable to find the key hit to push across the first run, but that diligence paid off two innings later.
With one out in the top of the third inning,
Brooke Sanford laced a 0-2 pitch through the left side of the infield. Sanford then made her way to third base after her steal attempt of second base forced a WU error.
Ashton Whitaker then put the Royals on the scoreboard a batter latter as drove Sanford in on a sac fly.
Queens then grew that advantage in the fourth frame as they had two more touch home. With an out,
Kelly Winter roped a double into left-centerfield to plate
Sabrina Martinez. Then, after a second out, an error during
Elaina Frantellizzi's at bat allowed Winter to round home.
The Royals then proceeded to add a run in each of the sixth and seventh innings – both due in large part to WU errors – to pull away for a 5-1 victory.
Wingate scored their lone run of game two in the sixth inning as it represented the lone blemish of
Courtney Pearson's stellar start. Pearson went the distance as she scattered five hits and fanned four for her 10th victory of the season.
Game One: Wingate 5, Queens 0
The first game of the doubleheader was one to forget for the Royals as they were held to only two hits against WU starting pitcher Rachel Weidner.
After
Brooke Sanford's lone hit in the first inning, Wingate struck pay dirt in the bottom of the second when Emma Swenson hit a one-out homerun to leftfield.
The Bulldogs then methodically built their lead to 5-0 as they added two runs in the third inning, one run in the fifth and another one in the sixth frame.
Queens finally grabbed its second hit in the sixth inning when
Sydney Ditto led the frame off with a base hit to straightaway centerfield. Unfortunately, the inning wouldn't go anywhere when a double play wiped out the chance.
The Royals had one last chance in the top of the seventh when they put runners on first and second, but there was already two outs registered in the inning and WU's Weidner got out of the jam to preserve the victory.
Up Next
Queens will look to take the momentum of today's game two victory into Saturday's home doubleheader against Anderson University. First pitch is schedule for 12 p.m.
