CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A pair of late-inning runs lifted the Queens University of Charlotte softball team to a 3-2 win over West Georgia in the opening game of Friday's ASUN doubleheader at The Stick before falling 4-2 in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: Queens 3, West Georgia 2
The Wolves struck first, plating a run in the top of the third and again in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. However, the Royals responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to reclaim the lead and secure the win.
Freshman Olivia Thornton led the way offensively for Queens, going two-for-three with a home run and two runs scored.
Lindsey DeRoeck and Lauren Byrd also added multi-hit efforts, with DeRoeck driving in a run and swiping a base, continuing her hit streak.
Senior Kenzie Forrester went the distance in the circle, scattering just three hits while allowing two runs and striking out three to earn the complete-game victory.
GAME TWO: West Georgia 4, Queens 2
West Georgia responded in Game 2 with a 4-2 win to earn the split, fueled by a clutch sixth inning and a complete-game outing from pitcher Hardison.
The Wolves scored in the second, fifth, and twice in the sixth to take control. Vandergriff led the offense with a two-for-three effort, driving in all three of her RBIs in the sixth with a bases-clearing double. Boyd added a solo home run in the fifth inning.
Hardison went the distance for West Georgia, limiting Queens to five hits and two runs while striking out four and walking none. Brooke Piper put up a solo homer in the sixth to cut their deficit in half, but Queens couldn't recover after the Wolves' late surge.
UP NEXT
Next, the Royals will face the Wolves in the rubber match in Charlotte tomorrow, April 19 for a noon ET start.
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.
