CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens softball team battled hard against Florida Gulf Coast at The Stick in the series finale that saw a dramatic turnaround. After FGCU jumped out early, a fifth-inning explosion by Queens propelled the home squad to a 5-3 victory, taking home the series win two games to one.
GAME RECAP
Florida Gulf Coast set the tone by scoring two runs in the opener. Early timely hits from starters like Emily Chiarella and Olivia Black helped the visitors jump to a quick 2-0 lead. Both teams tightened up in the second inning, with pitchers on both sides holding firm to keep the scoreboard quiet.
FGCU extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning. A key hit from Avery Viancos drove in an additional run, underscoring the visitors' early offensive burst. The fourth inning belonged to the Queens defense, which held FGCU scoreless as the home team began to regroup and prepare for a comeback.
The turning point of the game came in the fifth inning, when Queens' offense exploded for five unanswered runs. The rally began with a crucial leadoff hit that put pressure on FGCU, setting the stage for a series of timely extra-base hits. A key moment occurred when a well-timed swing produced a powerful home run by Lindsey DeRoeck, clearing the bases and igniting the inning. Contributions from Kaylee DeJesus and Brooke Piper added to the surge, as each batter capitalized on FGCU's struggles, stringing together a mix of solid line drives and a triple from Natalie Windham that kept the momentum alive. The energy in the stadium soared as Queens transformed a quiet inning into a decisive offensive outburst, completely overturning the early deficit and shifting the game's momentum in their favor.
Both sides returned to a pitching battle in the sixth inning. With no further scoring, Queens' newfound lead held steady while FGCU struggled to reignite their offense.
In the top of the seventh, with Queens clinging to a 5-3 lead and FGCU unable to mount a response, the game was called—sealing a hard-fought win for the Royals.
ROYAL RUNDOWN
- Queens' explosive fifth inning delivered all five of their runs, shifting the momentum.
- Kaylee DeJesus provided crucial hits that sparked the rally.
- Brooke Piper's timely contributions helped keep the momentum on the home side.
- FGCU's early offensive efforts—led by Emily Chiarella and Avery Viancos—built a 3-run lead, though it wasn't enough to withstand the late surge.
- Queens' pitching and defense held firm in the later innings, ensuring the victory as FGCU's bats went quiet.
"I'm really proud of the bullpen and how they were able to put together three great games as a staff," assistant coach and pitching coach Sierra Vanzant-Cheek said. "We're doing a good job of trusting our defense and defense is doing the work to make the outs behind them. There's a lot of gritty plays being made and that's the defense that is going to allow our offense to win ball games for us."
UP NEXT
The Royals face Furman for a midweek battle on Wednesday, April 5 for a 5 PM start.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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