FLORENCE, S.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte softball team battled Chowan University and Francis Marion University today, grabbing two wins in the opening day of the Patriot Invitational. The Royals defeated the Hawks 7-6 in game one, and then battled back from a 7-1 deficit to take a 10-9 win over the Patriots in eight innings. Queens now sits 9-2 on the year while Chowan falls to 3-4 and the Patriots drop to 5-2.
 
In a tight game one, the Royals opened the scoring in the top of the first when Sara Ingoldsby led off with a single through the right side. She then advanced to second during Gerlea Patton's at bat on a failed pickoff attempt by the catcher. With one out on the board, Sydney Ditto took first base after being hit by a pitch. Elaina Frantellizzi was then walked, while Ingoldsby and Ditto advanced. With Hunt at the plate, Shelby Griffis of Chowan threw a wild pitch allowing Queens to get its first run of the game as Ingoldsby crossed the plate. Hunt was then walked, which forced the Hawks coaching staff to pay a visit to the circle. Following the meeting, Abby Lathan grounded out to first base tallying an RBI as Ditto scored the final run of the inning.
 
Chowan put themselves on the board in the top of the second. With a runner on second the Hawks hit a double to center field to score their lone run of the inning. The Royals answered in the bottom half of the frame. Kelly Winter was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second when Cierra Robinson singled to third base on a bunt. Ingoldsby came up next and advanced both runners on a SAC bunt. Allison Lopez then pinch hit for Patton, grounding out to the shortstop but advancing Robinson to third and scoring Winter to tally the RBI. Queens' final run of the inning came when Hunt was walked with the bases loaded scoring Robinson and giving the Royals a 4-1 lead.
 
In the top of the third, the Hawks scored three runs on five hits on Queens' Courtney Pearson to knot the score at 4-4. The Royals once again responded in the bottom of the inning when Gemma Miller reached on a throwing error and then advanced to second. Madison Ackerman then came into pinch hit for Robinson and doubled to left field, scoring Miller to put the Royals up by one, 5-4, heading into the fourth frame.
 
After holding Chowan scoreless in the top of the fourth, Ditto led off with a home run to left center for Queens' lone run of the inning.
 
Chowan tied the game once more with a two-run home run to start the sixth inning forcing a pitching change by the Royals. Shannon McGuire would take over in the circle recording a pair of strike outs to take the Royals into the bottom of the sixth where they were able to take over control of the game for good.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Ditto would score the winning run of the day after getting on base thanks to a double to left center. She was then brought home by a single from Lathan. 
 
Ditto led Queens in the win going two-for-two with three runs, one RBI, one stolen base, and her third home run of the season. Lathan had two RBIs while Ackerman and Lopez both tallied one a piece. McGuire earned her third win of the season striking out four-of-seven batters and giving up just one hit in two innings of play.
 
In game two, Francis Marion struck first putting six runs on the board in the first two innings. Queens' first run of the game came in the bottom of the third after Brooke Sanford reached first on a muffed throw and advanced to second on a single by Ingoldsby. Sanford then crossed home plate when Patton reached on a fielding error, allowing both base runners to advance and putting the Royals on the board.
 
The Royals' defense allowed just one run from the Patriots in the fourth before holding them scoreless in the fifth. Trailing 7-1, Queens would come alive in the top of the sixth scoring three runs to close the gap to three, 7-4. Hunt got things going with a single to right field. Robinson then pinch ran for Hunt and advanced to second on Lathan's single to Chowan's shortstop. Both runners advanced again when Breanna Martinez SAC bunted. Ackerman, who pinch hit for Winter, reached on a throwing error and loaded the bases. Lopez then entered the game as a pinch hitter and grounded out to second to get Robinson across home plate. Ingoldsby then followed with a single up the middle to score Winter and Lathan putting Queens within three of the Patriots.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, McGuire struck out three batters in a row to hold off Francis Marion and give the Royals a chance to tie the game up. Up first was Ditto, who was hit by a pitch, and then called out at second on the next play as Sabrina Martinez reached on a fielder's choice. After a single by Hunt, Abby Lathan stepped up and hit a double driving S. Martinez home. Evie Scott then came in to pinch hit for B. Martinez hitting a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at seven. Queens then collected three outs in the bottom of the frame to force extra innings.
 
With Ingoldsby starting on second due to the international tie breaker rule, Patton singled placing runners on the corners. Sydney Ditto then stepped up to bat and hit her second home run of the day to put the Royals up 10-7. The Patriots made one final push scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning, but that was as close as they would get before Queens' defense collected the third out to end the game ahead by one run, 10-9.
 
McGuire earned her fourth win of the season after pitching six innings and striking out six batters. Pearson earned her first save of the season, giving up zero hits. Ditto went two-for-four with one run, three RBIs, and one home run. Lathan went three-for-five with two runs and one RBI.
 
The Royals are back in action tomorrow for day two of the Patriot Invitational. They will face Mercy College at 3 p.m. before stepping back into battle with Francis Marion University at 5 p.m. in Florence, S.C.