CLARKSVILLE, TENN. — The Queens University of Charlotte softball team marked their seventh consecutive win today after defeating the Austin Peay Governors in 4-2 and 7-2 scores on Saturday afternoon, April 20.

Their seven consecutive wins marks their longest overall win streak since February 27-March 10 of 2018, when the program won eight games straight.

The wins today also mark their first six-game conference-only winning streak since April 2-15, 2022 (Division II-South Atlantic Conference).

FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 5, Austin Peay 2 | Queens 7, Austin Peay  2
Records:  Queens (23-20, 8-9 ASUN) | Austin Peay (17-26, 3-14 ASUN)
Location: Clarksville, Tenn. (Cathi Maynard Park)

GAME 1 - QUEENS 4, AUSTIN PEAY 2

• Autumn Courtney found herself among another career milestone on Saturday as the sophomore notched her 400th career strikeout. Courtney now ranks third in program history in career strikeouts with 402 behind Queens Hall-of-Famer Catrina Crisp '01 (475) and Chantel Dodge '12 (762).
• Following a pattern from Wednesday, Queens once again got their bats going early in the game as Kayla Smith knocked a double down the right field line. Lindsey DeRoeck would reach on a fielder's choice and quickly steal second and draw a throw from the catcher to allow Smith to score on the throw, taking the 1-0 lead.
• Austin Peay would have no offensive answers, and Queens would attack again in the top of the third inning with a leadoff double from Natalie Windham.
• Smith would hit her second double of the day soon after, scoring Windham to tack on another Royals run. A stolen base from Smith and a Governors error would add yet another Royals run before the hosts could end the inning.
• No response from Austin Peay for two innings would give the Royals the bats in the top of the fifth. Smith would add on to her offensive clinic with a homer to center, putting their lead at 4-0.
• Eventually, Austin Peay would hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to cut their deficit in half, but that would be the only opportunity for the Governors to score for the rest of the game as Queens would hold on to the 4-2 win.
• Courtney earned her 17th win in the circle, allowing only two hits from the Governors.

GAME 2 - QUEENS 7, AUSTIN PEAY 2

• DeRoeck got things going in the top of the first inning with an RBI single through the left side. Haley Hmiel followed behind with an RBI to advance the runners, giving the Royals the two-run advantage.
• A walk drawn by Ashlyn Mickler and a single each from Windham and Smith would help push another Royals run across the plate in the top of the second inning.
• Austin Peay would finally get on the scoreboard with an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second. Austin Peay would score just one more time, in the bottom of the seventh, with a groundout RBI.
• Queens would score five more runs off a total fifteen hits to put the final score at 7-2.
• Queens' 15 hits is the most amount of hits in a single game for Queens since February 15, 2020 when the program tallied 16 hits against Albany State (Division II). The 15 hits marks the most amount of hits for the program in a single game in the Division I era.
• Abby Craver would finish with the win in the circle; her fourth win of the season. Craver would finish the complete game striking out three batters.

BALLPARK BULLETS

• On the day, Smith went 6-for-7 at the plate. 
• Smith tallied a season-high three hits in each game in Clarksville today (Three in game one, Three in game two).
• Smith has also now surpassed her previous season-high 47 hits in a single season notched in 2023 with 48.
• Natalie Windham tallied a season-high three hits in game two of the doubleheader today against Austin Peay. The junior also tallied a season-high six putouts in game one of the day.

UP NEXT
Up next, the Royals finish the series in Clarksville this weekend tomorrow, April 21 at 2:00 PM ET.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the Royals softball team on Instagram and Twitter/X to stay up to date on all the latest news surrounding the team. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics to stay updated on all the Royals sports teams in action by searching @QueensAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.