CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Queens softball was back on the road Saturday afternoon, prepped for a three-game series with Bellarmine. On the opening day of the series, Queens took the first game 2-0, thanks in part to the strong pitching of
Autumn Courtney, before dropping the second game, 3-1.
GAME 1
Autumn Courtney got the call for game one and continued her dominance right out the gate, striking out two batters in each of the first two innings, as the game remained scoreless heading into the third inning.
Kaylee DeJesus led off the third inning with a double to center field and quickly found herself on third after a sacrifice bunt by
Ashlyn Mickler.
Kayla Smith followed and found open space up the middle to bring home DeJesus and put the Royals ahead, 1-0.
Courtney continued to deal, fanning two batters in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
Queens doubled its lead in the top of the fifth, as a groundout by Ashlyn Mickley scored
Natalie Wescott and gave Queens a 2-0 lead.
Courtney would finishing the game strong, holding the Knights scoreless while only giving up two hits, earning her ninth victory of the season.
GAME 2
Abby Craver got the start in the second game of the afternoon and got to work quickly, sending two batters back to the dugout in the bottom of the first. Bellarmine, however, would strike first with an RBI double in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead.
Two innings later, a solo home run and an RBI single would extend the Knights' lead to 3-0.
Queens would get one back in the top of the sixth inning, as
Ashlyn Mickler smashed a grounder to third that caused an error and scored
Kiana Termine.
The Royals would manage a few more baserunners but were unable to bring any home, as Bellarmine would hold on for the 3-1 victory.
COACH'S WORDS
"Our pitchers threw well today", said head coach
Kella Goins. "We just could not get the timely hit in the second game".
NEXT UP
Queens wraps up the series with Bellarmine tomorrow, April 2 with a single game at 12PM ET.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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