WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Royals are kick-starting the season at the UNC Wilmington Tournament from Feb. 8-10 to face UNC Wilmington, Northern Kentucky, North Dakota State, and DePaul in a five-game stretch from Feb. 8-10.
Games will not be streamed, but will have live stats available on StatBroadcast (linked to the right).
FAST FACTS
- The Royals are preparing for their second Division 1 season and their first full season under the helm of Head Coach Kella Goins. Last year, the Royals tabbed a 20-26 overall record and a 10-14 record in league play. In the 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll, Queens was ranked 10th with a total of 41 points ahead of Lipscomb (37) and Bellarmine (17).
- Autumn Courtney was named the 2024 Atlantic Sun Preseason Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the 2024 Preseason All- Atlantic Sun Team, as officially released by the conference on Wednesday morning. The right-handed pitcher is coming off a freshman campaign in which she was named to the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Freshman Team. Courtney makes history for Queens as the first Royal to earn an "Of The Year" honor from the Atlantic Sun.
- Last season, the freshman tallied a 15-10 record in the circle, including seven shutouts and a save. As depicted by her 2.31 ERA, Courtney had a strong start to her Queens career as she helped her squad earn their first victory as a Division I institution in the team's season-opener against Appalachian State.
- Courtney's freshman season would be one for the books, as she tallied six Top-10 single-season records — ninth in complete games (19), eighth in wins (15), fifth in ERA (2.31), fourth in strikeouts (191), third in opponent batting average (.218), and second in shutouts (7).
- Offensively, Kayla Smith led the Royals at the plate with a .329 batting average, 47 hits including five homers and a .517 slugging percentage.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT(S)
DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS
- Picked fourth in the Big East this season, after a 2023 season with a record of 19-32, but still earned a bid to a 17th consecutive Big East Tournament.
- Fifth-year senior first baseman Brooke Johnson started all 104 games the last two seasons for the Blue Demons and earned a First-Team All-Big East Selection both seasons.
- Added transfers infielder Bibianna Rodriguez (Michigan State), infielder Ava Paganis (Bryant), and outfielder Kali Blount (Oregon State).
NORTHERN KENTUCKY
- Picked in a tie for first in the preseason Horizon League poll with Oakland in voting points, but the Norse had one more first place vote than the Golden Grizzlies.
- NKU won their first conference championship last year that led to their first berth in the NCAA Tournament, where they traveled to Knoxville, TN for the regional where they played Tennessee and Louisville.
- The Norse return Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and First Team selection Maddie Lacer, along with other first-team selection Lauryn Hicks and Ella LeMonier.
- 2023 Horizon League Coach of the Year Kathryn Gleason added 2021 Big Ten Player of the Year Lexie Blair to the coaching staff during the offseason as an assistant coach.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE
- The Bison were selected fourth in the preseason Summit League poll following a 30-21 (13-9) season in 2023.
- North Dakota State has won five regular season conference championships and six conference tournament titles in the last ten years.
- Senior outfielder Emilee Buringa and senior infield Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage were named to the Summit League Preseason Watch List. Buringa was a first team selection a year ago after starting all 51 games in center field and a batting average of .277. Aguilar-Beaucage was a second-team selection in 2023 following a year where she batted .297 while playing second base.
To catch even more Queens Softball content, be sure to tune into the OrthoCarolina Queens Coaches Show tonight at 6PM as Head Coach Kella Goins will speak before her team travels to Wilmington, N.C. to kick off the season. Tune in at the Queens Sports Network, found here.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the Royals softball program on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest news and updates surrounding the team. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics to follow all of the Royals sports in action.
