HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Queens University of Charlotte gave top-seeded Carson-Newman University all they could handle but they came up short in a narrow 4-3 defeat in both team's opening game of the 2017 SAC Softball Tournament on Thursday, April 27 at Byerly Park.

Queens (20-28) got a 2-for-4 performance from catcher Abby Lathan and starting pitcher Courtney Pearson only gave up three earned runs in a gutty performance against the high-powered Eagles (40-11). 

The Eagles were able to strike first as they started a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on first and second inning, catcher Karalynne Levi knocked a single into leftfield to send first baseman Taylor Scott from second base to home. 

C-N came perilously close to adding another as they went on to load the bases, but QU pitcher Courtney Pearson navigated out of trouble and limited the damage to only the one run. Pearson fanned four Eagles in her complete game performance.

Queens attempted their own two-out rally just a half inning later as Abby Lathan, Alyssa Strickler and Courtney Pearson reached base on a double, a walk and a catcher's interference, respectively. Unfortunately, SAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year Lacie Rinus got out of the jam by striking out the next Royals batter. 

Rinus struck out seven and walked four to earn her conference-leading 23rd victory of the season. 

The excitement of escaping that scoring opportunity led to one for the Eagles as right fielder Ashlyn Cooper opened the bottom of the second inning with a solo homerun to left field.

Now trailing 2-0 and against the conference's best pitcher, the Royals did not flinch as they came back to load the bases in the fourth inning. With two outs, second baseman Sydney Ditto tied the game up on a two-RBI hit to right field that plated both Courtney Pearson and Brooke Sanford.

Carson-Newman responded right back in the bottom half of the inning with an Alli Webster RBI hit to re-take the lead, 3-2. 

Queens then came firing back once more though as they re-tied the game back up with Abby Lathan's homerun to straight-away centerfield in the fifth inning. The solo shot was her fourth long ball of the season. 

The Eagles continued the see-sawing in the bottom of the fifth as they went back ahead, 4-3. This time Katie Pritchett drove Lace Rinus in on a hit to centerfield.

The Royals had one last chance to tie the game or go-head when Kelly Winter led the seventh inning off with a knock to centerfield, but it wouldn't be enough as Carson-Newman pulled out the narrow victory. 

Queens will now face an elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. The Royals will face the loser of the game between fourth-seeded Coker College and fifth-seeded Anderson University.