CHARLOTTE, N.C. -  The Queens University of Charlotte softball team (6-1) faced West Liberty University (2-1) and Johnson C. Smith University (0-3) on day one of the Queens Invite grabbing two wins in three games. After falling 7-2 to West Liberty in their first game of the day, Queens bounced back with a pair of wins over Johnson C. Smith and the Hilltoppers.
 
In game one, the Hilltoppers got ahead early with four runs in the first two innings. The Royals battled back and scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth when Kelly Winter singled to left centerfield to bring Sydney Ditto home. Ditto had doubled to left centerfield to get on base to lead off the inning. Both teams then remained scoreless and hitless through the fifth inning.
 
In the top of the sixth, West Liberty would extend its lead to 7-1. Again, Queens battled back and put one more run on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff hitter Sara Ingoldsby started the inning with a single up the right side. Ditto was then walked advancing Ingoldsby to second. Gerlea Patton came in to pinch run for Ingoldsby, and both Patton and Ditto would advance when Elaina Frantellizzi was walked. Alyssa Strickler stepped up to the plate next and hit Patton home. The run scored would be the final of the game.
 
Ingoldsby led the Royals going two-for-four while pitcher Courtney Pearson recorded four strikeouts.
 
In game two of the Queens Invite, the Royals came out swinging in the first inning scoring one run on two hits. Ingoldsby and Ditto both walked before Allison Lopez came up to bat and hit a single to right center advancing the runners on base. Jordan Hunt then reached on a fielder's choice while Ditto advanced and Ingoldsby scored putting Queens up, 1-0.
 
With the Golden Bulls still hitless, Queens came up to bat again with Abby Lathan leading off and tripling down the right field line. With Lathan in scoring position, Madison Ackerman would come in to pinch hit singling up the middle to score Lathan. Breanna Martinez then came in to pinch run for Ackerman and stole second. Ingoldsby stepped up to the plate next and doubled to left field to score B. Martinez. Next, Ditto reached on a throwing error by Johnson C. Smith's second baseman which scored Ingoldsby putting Queens up 5-0.
 
In a huge third inning Queens scored 10 runs on eleven hits. Jordan Hunt led off with a single down the right field line and then advanced to second when Strickler was hit by a pitch. Lathan then picked up 3 RBIs on a homerun to dead center. Patton would follow with a bunt to get on first base after entering the game as a pinch hitter. She then stole second before Evie Scott singled up the middle to bring her across home plate. Grace Wesoly then entered the game as a pinch runner for Scott advancing to second on a single by Ingoldsby. Winter followed with a double to left field and advanced to third on the throw scoring both Wesoly and Ingoldsby. With no outs on the board, Ditto was walked and advanced to second on a ground out while Winter would score. 
 
Back at the top of the order, Hunt flew out to center but advanced Ditto to third. Sabrina Martinez came in to pinch hit for Strickler and singled to center field scoring Ditto. Lathan then singled through the right side and advanced to second on the throw while S. Martinez advanced to third. Patton came up next to single up the middle, advance to second on the throw, and score S. Martinez. Wesoly then doubled to right center, picking up two RBIs to end the inning with the Royals in front, 16-0.
 
Heading into the fourth inning Queens capped its scoring at 17 when S. Martinez recorded an RBI with a single up the middle.
 
The Golden Bulls did not get on the board until the top of the fifth.
 
Freshman pitcher, Shannon McGuire (1-0) earned her first win as a Royal giving up only two hits to 19 batters. She also accumulated nine strikeouts. Lathan was a double shy of hitting a cycle while going three-for-four with three runs scored and one homerun. Ingoldsby, S. Martinez and Patton all went two-for-two with three, one, and two runs scored, respectively. Patton and Ditto also tallied one stolen base apiece.
 
After a break, the Royals returned to battle the Hilltoppers once more coming out on top the second time around.  West Liberty came out swinging recording one run and four hits, but Queens fired right back with three hits and three runs. Ingoldsby led off the inning with a single through the right side, however, the Hilltoppers would ger her out at third when Winter reached on an error by the catcher. Winter then stole third, and Ditto reached on a fielder's choice before following Winter's lead and stealing second. Lopez then came up to the plate and reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second while Ditto advanced to third and Winter scored. Still with only one out on the board Hunt would reach on an error by the shortstop and Lopez would advance to third while Ditto scored. Brooke Sanford then came in to pinch run for Lopez and was brought home on a single to right centerfield by Lathan that put Queens ahead, 3-1.
 
In the top of the third, West Liberty's Sydney Bennington homered to bring the Hilltoppers within one, 3-2, but Queens continued to battle and scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Hunt started the Royals off with a triple down the right field line. She was then hit home by Lathan's second homerun of the day.
 
West Liberty's final run of the game would come in the top of the fifth on a passed ball, while Queens' final two runs would come in the sixth. Winter led off for the Royals reaching first base on an error. Ditto was then walked and Winter advanced. A single from Lopez advanced Ditto to second and scored Winter putting the Royals up by three. B. Martinez then came in to pinch run for Lopez and advanced to second when Hunt reached on a fielder's choice that got Ditto out at third. Both Hunt and B. Martinez then advanced on a wild pitch forcing the Hilltoppers to pull their pitcher.
 
With Taylor Wright now in the circle, Lathan would walk before a wild pitch allowed she and Hunt to advance. B. Martinez also scored the Royals' final run of the game on the play.
 
Ali Celiberti (2-0) earned her second win as a Royal allowing only five hits after facing 13 batters. Lathan went two-for-three recording a homerun and three RBIs.
 
The Royals are back in action tomorrow for day two of the Queens Invite. They will face Johnson C. Smith at 12:30 p.m. for their lone game of the day.