MARS HILL, N.C.  – Competing for the first time in eight days, the No. 19 Queens University of Charlotte softball team began South Atlantic Conference play with a doubleheader split against Mars Hill University at a neutral site.
 
After dropping Game One by a score of 11-3, Queens bounced back with a vengeance and picked up its first conference win, downing Mars Hill, 8-4.
 
The Royals move to 24-4 (1-1) on the season while Mars Hill goes to 10-6 (1-1).
 
Jordan Hunt led Queens at the plate in both games on the day, beginning with a two-run home run in Game One. That increases her home run total to five on the season, the second most on the team and only one back of Sydney Ditto, the team leader with six.
 
Hunt then got the scoring started in Game Two when she singled home Sara Ingoldsby in the first inning. She followed that up with a two-run double in the top of the fifth, sparking a three-run inning, and the padding Queens would need for the eventual win.
 
Hunt finished the day with four RBI, three hits, and three runs scored. 
 
Ali Celiberti picked up the Game Two win and improved to 5-1 on the season for Queens. She allowed 10 hits and four runs over 5.2 innings before departing for Courtney Pearson to pick up the save. Pearson allowed no hits over 1.1 innings and struck out two, picking up her second save of the season and avenging her Game One loss in which she allowed six earned runs in 3.1 innings. 
 
Including Hunt, six Royals finished Sunday with RBIs. Gemma Miller, Kelly Winter, Breanna Martinez, Allison Lopez and Elaina Frantellizzi each recorded one. Queens had a total of 13 combined hits, including three from Ingoldsby, who is now batting .406 from the leadoff position this season.
 
Queens will return home on Wednesday for its first home game since Feb. 10 when it hosts Newberry College for a doubleheader at Park Road Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., and Game Two will follow at 3 p.m.