RADFORD, VA. — The Queens University of Charlotte softball team split a doubleheader today against the Radford Highlanders, winning the first game 7-1 and falling in the second game 9-6 on Tuesday, March 12.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• The Royals compiled nine hits in the 7-1 Game 1 affair, with action starting in the third inning with a Ashlyn Mickler RBI single to grab a 1-0 lead.
• Haley Hmiel and Brooke Piper would find their way to an RBI each in the third, finishing the side with a 3-0 advantage.
• After a scoreless half inning from Radford, Mickler once again came up to the plate and came up big for the Royals, rallying in another RBI single to push her squad's lead to four before the Highlanders escaped further damage.
• The Highlanders would eventually find their way to home plate after a sacrifice fly would send a runner home to put the score at 4-1. The Royals would quickly recover, though, with a strikeout from Courtney to finish out the inning.
• Once the Royals got their bats again in the top of the sixth, Mickler snagged her third hit of the day to score a Royal. Kayla Smith followed suit and swung in two more Royals to put their score at 7-1.
• Courtney would seal the deal with a three-up, three-down inning to finish off the victory with nine total strikeouts.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Hmiel kicked the offense off in the nightcap with a solo homer to center field to quickly grab a 1-0 lead — but the Highlander defense would hold the Royals off from further scoring in the inning.
• Radford would soon retaliate with an RBI double from Ashley Wilson to tie the score at one run even before Abby Craver forced a groundout and swiped back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
• Queens bounced back in the top of the second inning with a Kaylee DeJesus single to right field to get a runner on. Mickler would single to advance the runners, and a sacrifice bunt from Smith would give the Royals another one-run lead before their side was retired.
• Radford's bats would soon come alive in the bottom of the second - snatching seven hits and six runs to rally through a 7-2 lead before Jordan Dunn, who came in relief to the circle, soon got out of the jam.
• A three-up, three-down inning from the Royals gave the Highlanders their bats back in the bottom of the third, and found another two runs off single from Barbato.
• The Royals wouldn't find another run until the fifth inning as a Hmiel sacrifice fly and a single each from Mickler and Smith pushed through two more runs to put the score at 9-4.
• Despite the squads going scoreless for the next three half-innings, another clutch single from Hmiel would bring in two more runs, putting the Royals only within three.
• A pitching change for the Highlanders late in the inning would shake things up, and new pitcher Peace would finish off the win forcing two groundouts.

NOTABLES

• Mickler went six-for-six at the plate on the day, including three RBI.
• Hmiel had her best offensive day of the season to date, finishing with five RBI.
• Smith finished with three stolen bases.

UP NEXT

Up next, the Royals face their first ASUN opponent of the season, FGCU, in Fort Meyers starting March 16 at 2:00 PM.