CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In their final home doubleheader of the regular season, the Queens University of Charlotte softball team took game one against Stetson in walk-off fashion (4-3) off a Kayla Smith homer but soon fell in the nightcap by a 3-0 score.

FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 5, Stetson 1 | Queens 0, Stetson 3
Records:  Queens (25-23, 9-11 ASUN) | Stetson (14-34, 5-15 ASUN)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (The Stick Williams Dream Fields)

GAME 1 - QUEENS 4, STETSON 3
- Sophomore Autumn Courtney struck out four batters to get the first five outs for the Royals in the first two innings, but Stetson's Nadia English was able to get the road team on the board first with a solo home run with two outs in the top of the second. The home run was her first home run of her college career.
- Both pitchers, Courtney and Hatters' Hannah Marien, were in a rhythm keeping the score 1-0 in favor of the road team until Stetson was able to stretch their lead in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back singles by Lath Freeman and Annabella McClerren led of the inning, but then Courtney and the Royals were able to battle to get two outs with the runners at second and third. Then, English came through once again for the road team with a two-run single to move the lead to 3-0 for the visitors.
- The Royals bats woke up in the bottom half of the fourth. They had the bases loaded with one out, after a single by Kayla Smith, a Kasidi Staley walk, and a Lindsey DeRoeck single, for Brooke Piper at the plate. The Mooresville native worked a walk to send home Smith to get Queens on the board, trailing 3-1.
- That is when Stetson head coach Shellie Cousins made a change in the circle going to sophomore Caitlyn Kulczyski. Kaylee DeJesus then singled to drive home Staley, to cut the deficit to one. After that though, it was back-to-back outs for Queens as they left the bases loaded trailing 3-2.
- After Courtney sat the Hatters down in order in the top half of the inning, the Royals stayed hot at the plate with two more singles to lead off an inning, this time by Ashlyn Mickler and Smith. They were both moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt by Staley, which led to Mickler scoring on a DeRoeck single a couple of batters later to tie the game, 3-3. Smith came home as well, but was called out on a close play to end the inning.
- Neither team threatened in the sixth inning, as all six batters went down in order for both sides.
- In the seventh, Courtney kept working in the circle by retiring the side, which included two strikeouts in the frame.
- Queens was given the chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh with the game tied, but their effort looked to be coming up short after the first two batters grounded and then popped out. Then, on senior weekend the hometown graduate senior Smith sent the third pitch of the at bat over the Queens banner in center field for the walk-off home run to win 4-3.

GAME 2 - QUEENS 0, STETSON 3

• In the nightcap, Stetson was able to capitalize off seven hits to claim the 3-0 victory.
• Lauren Hobbs of the Hatters snagged her seventh victory in the circle of the season with six strikeouts in the complete game.
• The Royals put together four hits in game two, with two from Madison Cantoni, one from Kasidi Staley, and one from Natalie Windham.

BALLPARK BULLETS

• The win for Courtney in game one was her 19th of the season, which is fourth-most in a campaign in Queens history.
• Courtney's eleven strikeouts is the ninth time this season that the sophomore has struck out double-digit batters in a game.
• The eleven strikeouts also put Courtney back atop Division I in strikeouts this season. She now has 234 in 2024, which is eight more than Stanford's NaJaree Canady (226).
• The Smith homer in game one was the 27th of her career, which is second in program history and now has her only six dingers behind Kaitlyn Cheek (33, 2011-14) for first.

UP NEXT
Up next, the Royals will finish the Stetson series tomorrow at 10:00 AM at the Stick. Senior Day festivities will begin prior to first pitch.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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