FLORENCE, S.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte softball team collected two more wins this evening defeating Mercy College and Francis Marion University during the second day of the Patriot Invitational. The Royals are off to one of their best starts in program history at 11-2 after defeating the Mavericks (2-2) 11-5 and winning 8-2 over the Patriots (6-3).
 
In game one, Mercy College struck after one and a half scoreless innings for each team. With a runner on first, the Mavericks' Destini Bullock homered to right center putting Mercy up 2-0. Following the home run, Mikayla Newham doubled down the left field line scoring the two runners on base to increase the lead to 4-0.
 
Queens quickly answered scoring five runs on three hits in the top of the third. Sydney Ditto started the inning off with a walk and a stolen base. One batter later, Jordan Hunt was also walked. Abby Lathan then doubled to right center tallying two RBIs. Kelly Winter was then walked, and Evie Scott entered to pinch hit. She singled up the middle to advance Winter and score Lathan to put the Royals within one of the Mavericks. Madison Ackerman then entered to pinch hit for the Royals and Grace Wesoly pinch ran for Scott. Mercy's pitcher then walked her fourth batter of the inning, Ackerman, and all runners advanced. Ingoldsby capped the inning with a single to center field that scored Wesoly and Winter putting Queens up 5-4.
 
After holding Mercy scoreless in the bottom of the third Queens added three insurance runs in the top of the next frame. Ditto led off with a single to left center and advanced to second when Alyssa Strickler was walked, forcing the Mavericks to make a pitching change. Following the change both base runners advanced on a wild pitch. Hunt was then hit by a pitch loading the bases for the Royals. Mercy's pitcher then walked Abby Lathan, sending Ditto home. Winter stepped up to the plate next hitting a single up the middle to tally a pair of RBIs as Hunt and Strickler both crossed the plate for the final two runs of the inning.
 
Following a scoreless fifth inning, Queens would add one more run to the board in the sixth when a throwing error allowed Winter to cross home plate putting the Royals up, 9-4.
 
In the top of the seventh, with two outs on the board, Ditto was walked. Strickler then singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw. With runners in scoring position, Hunt doubled to right field driving Ditto and Strickler home for the Royals' final two runs of the game.
 
Mercy's final run of the day would come in the bottom of the seventh when Erica Handegard stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second. She then doubled to score the lead runner, giving the game its final score of 11-5.
 
McGuire struck out four batters and gave up just five hits in five innings. Hunt went one-for-three with two runs and two RBIs while Ditto went one-for-two with three runs and one stolen base.
 
In game two, Queens and Francis Marion battled through the first three innings with no runs scored. The Patriots would be the first to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth, but the Royals answered right back with a run in the top of the fifth scored by Cierra Robinson. After being walked and stealing second base, Robinson was brought home on a single from Ingoldsby knotting the game at 1-1.
 
The Royals then took control of the game for good in the top of the sixth, scoring six runs off of three hits. Ditto was walked and then advanced to second when Scott reached first on a fielding error. Hunt then stepped up and doubled to center, scoring Ditto. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Madison Ackerman stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam to center field putting Queens in front, 6-1. Gemma Miller then scored the final run of the inning thanks to a single to centerfield by Ingoldsby.
 
The Patriots tallied their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Jaimie Harney singled up the middle to hit one of two base runners home. Queens once again had an answer in the top of the seventh when Ditto hit her fifth home run of the season bringing the score to 8-2.
 
Ackerman went one-for-one with one run, four RBIs, and one homerun. Her grand slam was also her first collegiate home run. Ditto was one-for-three with two runs, one RBI, and one home run. Pearson picked up her fourth win striking out four batters and giving up just two runs in six innings pitched.
 
Following today's wins, four Queens players rank in the top five of six statistical categories in the South Atlantic Conference. Lathan leads the conference thus far in RBIs (17) and sits fourth in home runs with three. McGuire leads the conference in wins with five and sits in a four-way tie for second in the saves category with one. She also ranks fourth in strike outs (33) behind teammate Pearson who has 37. Pearson also finds herself tied for second in the saves category with one and sits second in the win category behind McGuire with four. Ditto, who led the conference in stolen bases last season, sits second with six. Ditto has also tallied five home runs thus far putting her at the top of the category.
 
The Royals travel to Lander University on Wednesday, Feb. 21 for a double-header at 1 and 3 p.m.