CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A walk-off homerun from Elaina Frantellizzi gave Queens University of Charlotte of doubleheader sweep of Catawba College on Wednesday, April 12 at Park Road Park.

Queens (19-24, 5-11) defeated visiting Catawba (10-35, 1-13) by the finals of 7-0 and 9-7 (8 Innings) to earn their first South Atlantic Conference sweep of the season. Game one saw Evie Scott and Courtney Pearson combine for a five-hit shutout, and the night cap was highlighted by a five-run seventh inning rally and Frantellizzi's walk-off three-run blast in the eighth inning. 


Game One: Queens 7, Catawba 0
The Royals defense was strong in the early going as they held the game scoreless with some stellar defensive play.

First, a double play started by third baseman Skye Moore snuffed out Catawba scoring opportunity in the first inning. With the bases loaded, the Royals extinguished another threat as catcher Abby Lathan picked off CC's Leah Huggins in the second inning. Queens then turned another 'twin-killer' to end third frame as they gunned down the lead runner at home.

Those defensive plays finally turned into some offensive momentum as the Royals pushed two across in the bottom of third inning. With two outs, first baseman Kelly Winter burned a double down the leftfield line to send both Brooke Sanford and Hanna Hasker across home plate.

Queens then really broke the game open in the fifth inning they used four hits and an Indians error to plate five runs and open up a 7-0 lead. The key at bat off the inning was second baseman Sydney Ditto's two-RBI double to straightaway centerfield which opened the door for the big inning to come.

The Royals had to show its defensive prowess again in the sixth inning as Catawba proceeded to load the bases again. This time, with Courtney Pearson pitching in relief, Kelly Winter fielded a grounder and threw out Caroline Turner charging home plate from third base. 

From there, Pearson got the next out and retired the Indians in order in the seventh inning to preserve the shutout victory. Pearson earned the victory as she allowed only two hits over the final four innings.

Game Two: Queens 9, Catawba 7 (8 Innings)
After two fairly quiet innings, the Royals found themselves in some adversity as two errors enabled Catawba to put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning.

Queens got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the frame as Ashton Whitaker drove Sydney Ditto in from second base on a one-out RBI knock to centerfield. The Royals should have had more runs after they proceeded to load the bases, but Indians third baseman Taylor Martin was able to turn a lineout into a double play which halted the rally in its tracks.

Unfortunately, that missed opportunity came back to haunt Queens as the Indians put up two more runs in the top of the fourth. 

The Indians went on to add one more run in the fifth inning on designated player Kat Shumaker's solo homerun to put them ahead 6-1.

Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Royals desperately needed a spark if a comeback was going to be realized. They got just that as Sydney Ditto and Kelly Winter each reached base to begin the frame. The spark then turned into a wildfire as designated player Ashton Whitaker cranked a three-run homer over the right-centerfield wall.

The comeback trail was fully on then as Queens proceeded to load the bases for pinch hitter Sabrina Martinez. With two outs and a 1-0 count, Martinez lined a hit into the right-center gap that sent both Alyssa Strickler and Alaina Frantellizzi rounding home to tie the game. 

The game then moved into extra innings and the Indians once again put the Royals on the ropes as they plated one run in the top of the eighth inning. While QU managed to get both Sydney Ditto and Skye Moore into scoring position, they were once again down their final out. 

With a 3-1 count, Alaina Frantellizzi found a pitch to hit and launched a shot down the left field line. It was a no-doubter off the bat as the hit towered over the left field wall and gave the Royals the doubleheader sweep.

Up Next
Queens will look to continue the winning momentum this Friday as they host Mars Hill University on Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.