CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Queens University of Charlotte softball team completed a historic come-from-behind win against No. 6 Jacksonville by a score of 2-1 in the first game of the ASUN Championship on Tuesday, May 7.

The win marks the program's first postseason victory since April of 2018, when the Royals defeated Newberry (Division II). The win also serves as the first Division I postseason win in program history.

FIRST PITCH
Score: Queens 2, Jacksonville 1
Records:  Queens (29-24 | Jacksonville (26-25)
Location: Oxford, Ala. (Choccolocco Park)
 

GAME 1, FIRST ROUND - QUEENS 2, JACKSONVILLE 1

• In the top of the first inning, Ashlyn Mickler revved up her Royals with a leadoff single up the middle. Kayla Smith would put down a sacrifice bunt to put Mickler at second, but the squad wouldn't be able to push her home. 
• Jacksonville placed the first mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first as Averi Harcus hit an RBI double to left. Autumn Courtney, who got the nod for the first game of the championship, recovered quickly with her first strikeout of the game to cut their momentum short.
• Jacksonville committed their first error of the day in the top of the second inning, allowing a Royals baserunner. A putout at second, a strikeout thrown by Skylar Waggoner, and a flyout would send the Royals back to the field.
• Courtney soon settled in, swiping two strikeouts and forcing a groundout from the Dolphins to quickly get the Royals bats back.
• Despite a single poked by Madison Cantoni in the top of the third, the Royals couldn't convert a run.
• Over the next three and-a-half innings, neither the Royals or the Dolphins were able to push a run across, despite getting runners in scoring position.
• In the top of the seventh, Queens would find themselves with a runner on second after a single from Brooke Piper and a sacrifice bunt. After a foul out, the Royals would be down a run with two outs.
• Abby Craver soon came up to the plate as a pinch hitter, smashing an RBI single to left center to score Piper to tie the game at 1-1.
• Mickler was soon hit by the pitch in her at-bat, giving the Royals two baserunners as Kayla Smith took the plate.
• Smith would rocket another single, scoring the go-ahead run.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Jacksonville had no answers and would be silenced by Courtney and the defense to mark a 2-1 Royals victory.

BALLPARK BULLETS

• Courtney, the Second Team All-ASUN honoree, earned her 21st win in the circle.
• Courtney swiped eight strikeouts on the day in the complete game.
• The Royals committed no errors in the matchup, while Jacksonville committed three.

UP NEXT
Up next, the #6 Royals will face the #3 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears in the next game of the ASUN Championship on May 8 at 4:00 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.