OPENING PITCH
Score: Queens 5 | Lehigh 3
Records: Queens (2-3) | Lehigh (5-3)
Location: Brinkley Stadium (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
THE SHORT STORY
The Queens University of Charlotte softball team used timely hitting and a complete-game effort from Addison Kluck to secure a 5-3 win over Lehigh Saturday afternoon at the Red & Black Classic, hosted by Gardner-Webb.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Queens struck first in the opening frame when Olivia Thornton singled and later scored on a Lindsay Henson RBI double to right center.
Lehigh answered in the bottom of the first before taking a 3-1 lead in the second inning behind a pair of RBI hits and a bases-loaded walk.
The Royals evened the score in the fifth. After Alivia Artanis reached on an error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, Sage Farmer delivered an RBI single up the middle. Later in the inning, Thornton drove in Farmer to tie the game at 3-3.
Queens took the lead for good in the sixth. Shayna Suttles singled and stole second before Lauren Byrd reached on a fielding error that allowed Suttles to score the go-ahead run.
The Royals added insurance in the seventh. Leila Susaia drew a leadoff walk, and Henson later drove in her second run of the afternoon with an RBI single to push the advantage to 5-3.
Kluck closed the door in the bottom half, stranding a runner at second to secure the victory.
IN THE CIRCLE
Addison Kluck improved to 2-0 on the season after tossing a complete game. She allowed nine hits and three earned runs while striking out five across 7.0 innings.
Masiko, Maddie took the loss for Lehigh.
ROYALS LEADERS
Queens tallied nine hits in the win. Sage Farmer and Olivia Thornton each recorded two hits, while Henson finished with two hits and two RBI.
Suttles added a hit and a stolen base, and Byrd drove in a key run in the sixth inning.
COACH ARMSTRONG COMMENTS
"Offense did a fantastic job this weekend," Head Coach Kella Armstrong said. "We are continuing to put great games together. Addie [Kluck] also had a fantastic weekend. She's starting to settle in, I'm excited to see where this team goes from here."
NOTABLES
• Queens scored in four different innings
• Henson recorded two RBI, including the insurance run in the seventh
• Kluck earned her second win of the season
• Queens did not commit an error defensively
UP NEXT
Queens heads to Raleigh for a midweek matchup against NC State on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
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.
