CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Playing in its final home games of the 2018 season, the Queens University of Charlotte softball team ran into a streaking Wingate squad, winners of six in a row entering the day. The Royals (32-14, 8-10) came up just short in a Game One pitching duel, dropping the contest by a score of 2-1. The Bulldogs then took the second game of the doubleheader, 8-0.
 
Queens finishes its home schedule at 10-7 and marks the first time it recorded double-digit home wins since 2014, when it had 11.
 
Starting pitching stole the show in Game One as Courtney Pearson of Queens (14-8) and Aubrey Reep of Wingate (14-9) both overmatched hitters in complete game performances. Reep got the upper edge, holding the Royals hitless for all seven innings in a no-hit performance. She struck out seven and walked five, including Sara Ingoldsby, who scored from second in the first inning thanks to an error in center field on a blooper from Abby Lathan.
 
Queens maintained its 1-0 lead until the sixth inning when Reep took Pearson deep, tying the game up at one apiece. The Bulldogs then added the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh thanks to a Naomi Sapp double that scored Haley Cashwell from first. 
 
Despite taking the loss, Pearson pitched lights out striking out six while allowing only six hits. She walked three and lowered her ERA to 2.54.
 
After striking out six today, Pearson ups her total to 154 putouts on the season, one more than the 153 she had last season. That increases her career total to 307 in just two seasons as she became only the fourth pitcher in Queens history to eclipse 300 strikeouts. 
 
In Game Two, Evie Scott drew the start and made her first appearance in the circle this season. She went two innings and gave up three runs, one earned, on four hits.
 
The Royals entered the day leading the South Atlantic Conference with 6.57 runs per game. The Game Two shutout marked only the third time this season that they failed to score at least one run.
 
With only two games remaining on the schedule, Queens will hit the road for the final time this regular season for a doubleheader with Tusculum College on Saturday, April 21 in Greeneville, Tenn. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.