ROCK HILL, S.C. – It was the home opener for the Queens University of Charlotte softball team on Saturday, and although the doubleheader versus Virginia State University was forced to relocate, a healthy crowd of Royals' faithful turned out to see Queens record its first doubleheader sweep of the 2019 season from Terry Field in Rock Hill, S.C. The Royals combined for 19 runs in two games, limiting the Trojans to only five, as they took game one, 10-5, and game two, 9-0. 
 
Queens improves to a 3-1 record through four games to begin the season, while Virginia State falls to 1-5. 
 
Game One: Queens 10, Virginia State 5 
 
Queens wasted no time putting a crooked number up on the scoreboard, as the Royals batted all the way around in the first inning, plating five runs during its first opportunity in front of their home crowd this season. 
 
Showcasing an ability to manufacture runs, Queens scored all five first-inning runs on only one hit, a two-run single up the middle from McKenzie McCullen that scored Kelly Winter and Grace Valchar, the two and three-hole hitters in the Queens lineup. After being hit by a pitch to start the game, leadoff hitter Gerlea Patton stole both second and third base and had already crossed the plate after Jordan Hunt drew a bases loaded walk. Hunt and McCullen then capped off the big first inning with aggressive baserunning that saw them both score after a wild pitch by Trojans' pitcher Kennedy Presson. 
 
The Royals' offense continued to dominate early on. Following a RBI triple to right center by Winter, McCullen smashed her second home run of the year, playing in only her third-career game, to extend the lead to seven runs through two innings. Queens went on to score two more runs, both coming in the sixth innings with RBIs from Patton and Winter. 
 
After entering the circle to start the second inning, Shannon McGuire pitched the final six innings of game one as she picked up her first win of the season, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks. She struck out seven. Freshman Kate Hunter started the game at pitcher and picked up one strikeout to go with two hits and one run. 
 
Game Two: Queens 9, Virginia State 0 (5 inn.)
 
Behind a dominant pitching performance from Courtney Pearson, Queens made quick work of Virginia State in game two as Pearson blanked the Trojans and picked up her first shutout of the season. 
 
Now 2-1 through three appearances, Pearson gave up only four hits in five innings, zero of which went for extra bases, and struck out eight batters for the second time in two starts. Eight of the 18 batters Pearson faced on the day struck out. 
 
Like the Trojans, the Royals also recorded four hits in game two. But similar to game one, the Royals manufactured runs once getting runners on base and into scoring position. Patton continued to wreak havoc from the leadoff spot, as the leadoff hitter went 1 for 2 with a walk, while scoring twice. The first four batters in the Royals' lineup – Patton, Winter, Valchar and Hunt – combined to score five runs. 
 
Batting fifth, McCullen continued her tear to begin her freshman season. She notched another RBI double in game two, and now has two home runs, three doubles and seven RBIs in nine official at-bats as a Royal. 
 
Cierra Robinson and Grace Wesoly also both picked up singles in the win. 
 
Queens will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at home at Park Road Park. The Royals will face off against UNC Pembroke in a doubleheader with game times scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.