CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Royals are back in action this weekend as they face the Stetson Hatters on their Senior Weekend in a three-game series.
Coverage of all games can be found on ESPN Plus and StatBroadcast, all found on our schedule tab.
GAME NOTES & QUICK FACTS - QUEENS ROYALS
- The Queens University of Charlotte softball team finished up a midweek doubleheader in Buies Creek against Campbell and took the first game by a score of 5-1 before falling in the nightcap by a score of 10-2.
- To date, Kayla Smith is tied for third in the ASUN in stolen bases on the year with 21. She also finds herself in the top 10 of many categories: tied for fifth in hits (51), tied for sixth in runs scored (30), and eighth in slugging percentage (.530).
- Autumn Courtney still leads all of Division I in total strikeouts with 223. She is tied for second in the ASUN with wins in the circle this season with 18. She has also pitched the most innings of any pitcher in the ASUN this season with 182.
- In the conference standings, Queens is sitting in seventh with a record of 8-10 of the conference - two games ahead of the eighth place team, Kennesaw State (6-12) and three games ahead of the ninth place squad Bellarmine (5-13). Stetson is tied for last in the conference with a 4-14 record - another winless weekend for the Hatters could seal their fate in not making the conference tournament.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT - STETSON HATTERS
- The Hatters arrive in the Queen City on a five-game losing streak and have lost 14 of their last 15 games. They lost to in-state foe Florida International at home on Wednesday 12-0, which came after being swept at Florida Gulf Coast last weekend (4-1, 5-4, 3-2). The only win in the last 15 games came against Jacksonville in ASUN play in DeLand on April 13, 12-4.
- The current losing streak for Stetson is their third this season of at least five games. The Hatters have only won one road conference game this season, the first ASUN game at Kennesaw State (1-0, March 16), which is also their only true road win of the entire season. Their only other win away from Patricia Wilson Field was against Brown on March 3 in the Tennessee Classic in Knoxville (6-1).
- Even with the 4-14 conference record, Stetson leads the ASUN in team batting average (.289) in conference play. Their bats are led by junior Kami Eppley, who is batting .366, which is seventh best in the Atlantic Sun. Eppley is also tied for fifth in the league in hits, with 49 on the year.
- Senior pitcher Lauren Hobbs and sophomore Hannah Marien are both tied for fourth in the ASUN with 22 starts on the season. They are the only teammates in the top eight in the league in starts. The only other tandem in the top ten are Central Arkansas' Bailie Runner and Julia Petty, who are number eight and ten respectively.
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.
