CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Queens University of Charlotte softball team (1-1; 0-0 SAC) split its season opener at home this afternoon with Lees-McRae College at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields.
 
Game One: Queens 3 Lees-McRae 2
 
In the opening game of the day, the Royals were able to get on the board in the bottom of the first when Sabrina Martinez was able to steal second after advancing to first base on a walk. She then advanced to third on a single from Kasidi Stanley before Kayla Smith brought her home on a sac fly to right field.  
 
The Bobcats knotted the game at 1-1 scoring a run in the top of the third, but the Royals had an answer in the bottom of the inning when Ashlyn Mickler singled to right field to record an RBI as Smith reached home. Smith opened the bottom with a double to get on base.
 
A home run from Lees-McRae's Cassidy Coleman at the top of the fourth would tie the game at 2-2, and that score held until the bottom of the fifth when Chloe Linton of Queens was able to score an unearned run to put the Royals on top, 3-2.
 
Smith led in game one with two hits and one run. Shannon McGuire collected the win after pitching five innings and striking out three batters. Haley Nelson pitched two innings and struck out three.
 
Game Two: Queens 1 Lees-McRae 4
 
The Bobcats were able to strike first in game two as Julie Gast recorded an RBI in the top of the third to put Lees-McRae in front 1-0. Later in the top of the fifth, Gast hit a home run to collect two more RBIs and put her team in front 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Queens was able to get on the board when Haley Nelson responded with her own home run to give the game a 3-1 score. However, her run would be the only one for the Royals in the game as Lees-McRae was able to score once more in the top of the sixth to give the game its final score.
 
Victoria Elder suffered the loss in game two after pitching 4.1 innings and striking out six. Khristen McPherson totaled five strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.
 
Queens is back in action at The Tuck on Wednesday, February 10 when they take on UNC Pembroke in a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.