CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kella Goin's squad battled through eight innings inside Brinkley Stadium against the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs but just barely came short, 1-0, on Wednesday, March 6.
THE SHORT STORY
A hit to center field from Ashlyn Mickler would get things started for Queens in the top of the first inning. Mickler would soon get in scoring position, but a swift inning from Andrea Lyon would hold the Royals off the board.
Gardner-Webb got their first runner on in the bottom of the first inning with a double to left field from Lyon. Queens didn't let the runner sit for long, though, as Autumn Courtney swiped three strikeouts to retire the side.
Queens would get two runners on base in the top of the second, but a fielder's choice and a force out at third base ended the stretch.
Gardner-Webb responded with a single to the left side, but once again, Courtney and her defense held the host off home plate.
The Royals and the Bulldogs would go the next five innings without more than two hits from their offense. After four innings from Lyon in the circle, Kalyn Kyle would finish off the next four innings for the Bulldogs.
In extras, Queens' Kayla Smith would advance to third with a sacrifice from Mickler, but a bunt from Abby Craver allowed the Bulldogs to tag Smith out at the plate to keep them from scoring.
In Gardner-Webb's at-bat, a sacrifice bunt and a single to second base would eventually send McLaughlin home, taking the 1-0 victory.
Courtney finished with 12 strikeouts for the Royals, while the offense finished out the battle with four hits (Smith, Piper, Cantoni, Mickler).
UP NEXT
Up next, the Royals face Radford on the road in Tuesday, March 12 with 2:00 and 4:00 PM start times.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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