COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Queens University of Charlotte softball team split its Saturday slate at Carolina Softball Stadium, falling to UAB in the morning before responding with a dominant win over Marist in the afternoon.

GAME ONE
OPENING PITCH
Score: Queens 2 | UAB 11
Records: Queens (2-7) | UAB (10-8)
Location: Carolina Softball Stadium (Columbia, S.C.)

THE SHORT STORY
UAB used a 17-hit performance and multiple big innings to pull away from Queens on Saturday morning, defeating the Royals 11-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UAB struck early with a run in the first before plating three more in the second to build a 4-0 advantage.

Queens responded in the bottom half of the second when Lindsay Henson launched a solo home run to center field to put the Royals on the board. In the third, Queens cut the deficit to 4-2 after Sage Farmer singled and later scored on an RBI knock from Olivia Thornton.

However, UAB regained momentum in the fifth, scoring three runs to extend its lead to 7-2. The Blazers added four more in the sixth, capitalizing on walks and defensive miscues to put the game out of reach.

AT THE PLATE

• Henson finished 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk.
• Thornton drove in a run.
• Lauren Byrd collected two hits.
• Queens tallied seven hits in the contest.

IN THE CIRCLE

• Kooper Barnes took the loss after allowing four runs in 1.2 innings.
• Henson tossed three innings in relief, and Izzy Lawrence closed the game.

GAME TWO
OPENING PITCH
Score: Queens 7 | Marist 1
Records: Queens (3-7) | Marist (6-11)
Location: Carolina Softball Stadium (Columbia, S.C.)

THE SHORT STORY
Queens responded in a big way in the afternoon, exploding for 13 hits and riding a dominant complete-game effort from Addison Kluck to defeat Marist 7-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After both teams traded runs in the second inning, Queens took control in the third. Olivia Thornton singled and scored on a double from Lindsay Henson to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, a Marist throwing error allowed another run to cross, extending the advantage to 3-1.

The Royals broke things open in the fourth. Dani Stewart and Sage Farmer sparked the inning with back-to-back singles before Thornton delivered an RBI single. Henson then crushed a three-run homer to left field, capping a four-run frame and pushing the lead to 7-1. From there, Kluck handled the rest from the circle.

AT THE PLATE

• Henson went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs.
• Kami Diaz collected three hits.
• Thornton added two hits and an RBI.
• Queens finished with 13 hits and six RBIs.

IN THE CIRCLE
Kluck was dominant, tossing a complete-game three-hitter. She struck out 14 batters while allowing just one earned run and two walks.

UP NEXT
Queens finishes the weekend in Columbia with a doubleheader against host South Carolina tomorrow, March 1 at 12:30 and 3:00 PM.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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