HICKORY, N.C. -- Courtney Pearson suffered only her second loss in her last 11 appearances, the Royals' bats were held at bay, and the Queens University of Charlotte softball team (17-9; 5-5 SAC) dropped both games of their doubleheader on Wednesday on the road against the League-leading Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. Queens fell in game one by a final score of 6-3, followed by a 10-2 final in game two. 

Game One: Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Queens 3 

While Queens was able to hold Lenoir-Rhyne in check for the majority of game one, the Bears were able to plate four runs in the fourth inning, ultimately enough to down the Royals, 6-3. 

After the two teams traded scoreless frames through the first two innings, Lenoir-Rhyne jumped on the scoreboard first with two runs in the bottom of the third. However, like they have done several times this season, Queens immediately answered back in its next opportunity, scoring two runs of its own in the top of the next inning to even things up at 2-2. After a sacrifice fly from Grace Valchar allowed Sydney Ditto to tag from third base and score, in which McKenzie McCullen advanced to third, McCullen later scored on a wild pitch to even things up on the scoreboard. 

From that point on, the Royals' bats were held in check for the majority of the game, and when the Bears struck for four runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead, it proved too big of a lead for Queens to overcome. Ditto was able to connect in the sixth inning and went deep once again for her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to cut the lead to 6-3, but the Bears shut down the Royals' offense from there to claim game one. 

Pearson suffered the loss for Queens in the circle to move to 11-3 overall this season. 

Game Two: Lenoir-Rhyne 10, Queens 2 (5 inn.)

Lenoir-Rhyne scored four runs in the first inning, then at least one run in three of the next four innings, as the Bears were able to take control of game two early and take game two against the Royals in five innings, 10-2. For Queens, it marked only the second time all season it suffered a doubleheader sweep, as well as two consecutive losses. 

Queens mustered three hits at the plate to Lenoir-Rhyne's 10, as McCullen, Sara Ingoldsby and Jordan Hunt each recorded singles. Meanwhile, the Royals drew five walks, including two by Valchar, and one apiece from the two, three and four spots in the lineup -- Kelly Winter, Ditto and McCullen. 

After scoring the game's first run in the top of the first inning thanks to an Ingoldsby single to right field, scoring Ditto, the Bears quickly answered with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Form there, they went on to score one run in the second, two in the fourth and three in the fifth, which ultimately put an end to the game with an eight-run lead in the fifth. 

Kristen McPherson got the start for Queens, but struggled to make it through the first inning, allowing four earned runs on three hits. Shannon McGuire entered for McPherson and finished one inning of work while allowing one earned run and four walks. Kate Hunter then completed the final three innings in the circle for the Royals.

Queens will be back in action on Saturday, April 6 at home for Senior Day against Tusculum University. Game one of the doubleheader at Park Road Park is scheduled for 1 p.m., while the team's three seniors -- Ditto, Brooke Sanford and Cierra Robinson -- will be honored prior to the game.