CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Queens University of Charlotte softball team marked a historic moment on Wednesday, hosting their inaugural doubleheader on the new turf field at The Stick. The Royals opened the day with a commanding 11-4 victory over NC A&T before falling 4-0 in the nightcap.

GAME ONE: QUEENS 11, NC A&T 4

• Queens (4-9) jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first inning, thanks to Lindsey DeRoeck's leadoff single and aggressive base running. After a quiet second inning, the Royals broke the game open in the third, pushing across three runs. Lauren Byrd sparked the rally with a two-run homer to left; her third homer of the season.
• The fourth inning saw Queens pile on four more runs. Natalie Windham delivered the big blow — a two-run homer. The Royals tacked on two more runs in the fifth, fueled by key at-bats from Kaylee DeJesus and Byrd, before adding a final insurance run in the sixth.
• DeRoeck had a strong all-around performance, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Windham finished 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, and a walk. DeJesus added a hit, a walk, and two stolen bases, keeping pressure on the Aggies' defense.
• In the circle, Queens' pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts over seven innings. Starter Taylor Jones held NC A&T to just one run over the first four frames, and Jordan Dunn closed the door with a solid relief outing.

GAME TWO: QUEENS 0, NC AT&T 4

• The Royals struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, falling to NC A&T 4-0 in the nightcap. The Royals were limited to just two hits as the Aggies' pitcher Lauren Hardy threw a complete-game shutout.
• Despite a solid effort in the circle from Jordan Dunn, who struck out six batters and allowed only three earned runs over 6.2 innings, Queens couldn't crack Hardy.
• Queens threatened in the first inning with a leadoff single from Makala Strickland, but left two runners stranded. The Royals managed just one more hit — a single by Alexi Markle in the fourth — and drew five walks, but couldn't capitalize on the scoring opportunities.
• NC A&T broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a two-run home run by Jamari Moss, followed by back-to-back homers from Katriel Williams and Hardy in the sixth, pushing their lead to 4-0.
• Dunn worked through traffic all afternoon, scattering nine hits and stranding seven Aggies on base. Kenzie Forrester entered in relief to get the final out of the seventh inning.

POSTGAME COMMENTS
"Playing at home is always great, but its even better when you have a new turf field," Head Coach Kella Armstrong said. "Our freshmen are making a huge impact in our lineup, they are making their mark early."

UP NEXT
The Royals will head to Winthrop for the Winthrop Eagle Classic on March 8 for a doubleheader featuring Presbyterian in Game 1 at 12:30 PM and Winthrop in Game 2 at 3 PM.

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.