CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Taking on South Atlantic Conference leader Anderson University, Queens University of Charlotte earned a well-deserved split on Saturday, April 1 at Park Road Park.

Queens (16-21, 2-8) bounced back from a tough start to shutout the high-powered Trojans (29-9, 7-3) 7-0 in game two of the doubleheader. The Royals got two homeruns from first baseman Kelly Winter, and starting pitcher Courtney Pearson one-hit Anderson.

Game One: Anderson 16, Queens 3
The game began as a pitcher's duel as Queens starting pitcher Allison Lopez and Anderson starter Augie Pena cruised through the first two innings.

The Trojans finally broke through in the third inning when first baseman Rachael Barefield hit a one-out solo homerun to centerfield. Anderson then tacked on one more in the fourth inning when shortstop Mattie Hamilton doubled in centerfielder Courtney Czentnar. 

Anderson then really broke the game open an inning later as they added four runs in the fifth inning followed by three more in the sixth to take over a 9-0 advantage.

With the game hanging in the balance, it was then that the Royals finally found some offense against Augie Pena as second baseman Sydney Ditto got a one-out rally started with a slap back up the middle. Centerfielder Brooke Sanford then followed her with a slice through the left side of the infield to put two on base.

After a second out, Abby Lathan sent Park Road Park into a frenzy as she smoked a three-run homerun down the leftfield line to close the AU lead to 9-3.

Unfortunately, things went south for the Royals in the seventh inning as Anderson exploded for seven runs to pull away for a 16-3 victory. 

Game Two: Queens 7, Anderson 0
The second game of the doubleheader went to a completely different script than in game one as it was Queens who asserted itself over Anderson.

In the second inning, Queens loudly registered the first runs of the game when first baseman Kelly Winter blasted a shot over the left-centerfield wall to plate both her and rightfielder Alyssa Strickler. 

After three-up and three-down third inning for both teams, the Royals went right back to work in the fourth inning with another two runs. With runners on first and second, Winter sent a hard roller to AU second baseman Kasey Grant who let it go through the 'wickets,' and allow both Elaina Frantellizzi and Strickler to scamper home.

Then, in the fifth inning, designated player Ashton Whitaker drove in Queens' fifth run of the game when she sent second baseman Sydney Ditto home with an RBI base hit to right-centerfield.

Finally, Kelly Winter capped her career afternoon when in the sixth inning she hit a second two-run homerun to put the Royals up 7-0. 

While QU was scored runs in bunches, starting pitcher Courtney Pearson had the Trojans completely stymied. The freshman from Candler, N.C. allowed only one hit and fanned nine batters en route to the complete game shutout. Pearson also faced the minimum in four of seven innings.

Up Next
Queens is back in action on Wednesday, April 5 when they head south for a two-game set at Newberry College.