OPENING PITCH
Game 1 Score: Queens 9 | Western Carolina 1 (5 innings)
Game 2 Score: Queens 3 | Western Carolina 11 (6 innings)
Records: Queens (6-13) | Western Carolina (16-8)
Location: The Stick (Charlotte, N.C.)

THE SHORT STORY
The Queens University of Charlotte softball team split a Tuesday doubleheader with Western Carolina at The Stick. The Royals powered their way to a 9-1 run-rule victory in game one behind a strong outing from Addison Kluck and a grand slam from Olivia Thornton before the Catamounts answered with an 11-3 win in game two.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Western Carolina opened the scoring in the first inning when Lily Bell crossed the plate on a Queens error to give the Catamounts a 1-0 lead.

Queens quickly answered in the bottom of the inning. Sage Farmer scored the tying run on an RBI single from Shayna Suttles before Kami Diaz reached on a throwing error that allowed Lauren Byrd and Suttles to score, giving the Royals a 3-1 advantage.

The Royals extended the lead in the second inning when Farmer scored again on Byrd's RBI single to left center.

Queens broke the game open in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Olivia Thornton launched a grand slam to center field to push the Royals ahead 8-1. Lindsay Henson followed with a solo home run to right center to cap the scoring and extend the lead to 9-1.

Addison Kluck handled the rest in the circle, tossing a complete-game five-inning effort and allowing just one unearned run while striking out six.

Game 2
Western Carolina jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Taylor Waitley reached on a throwing error that allowed Lily Bell to score before Maya McPherson added a sacrifice fly. Tate Stewman then connected on a three-run home run to give the Catamounts a 5-0 advantage.

Queens responded in the fourth inning with three runs. Olivia Thornton scored the Royals' first run on a sacrifice fly from Lindsay Henson. Madison Cantoni then delivered an RBI single to center field, bringing home Kami Diaz, before Dani Stewart doubled to left center to score Caylin Herring and trim the deficit to 5-3.

Western Carolina added two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Sydnee Bumgarner and an RBI fielder's choice from Emma Kindle to extend the lead to 7-3.

The Catamounts put the game away in the sixth inning to secure the 11-3 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Olivia Thornton hit a grand slam in game one and finished the day with three hits.
• Sage Farmer went 3-for-3 with three runs scored in the opener.
• Lauren Byrd recorded three hits across the doubleheader and drove in a run.
• Lindsay Henson homered in game one and added a sacrifice fly RBI in game two.
• Queens recorded 18 hits across the doubleheader, including 10 in game two.
• Addison Kluck earned the game one victory after allowing one unearned run and striking out six over five innings.

"We've been doing some really good things offensively, and our pitching was strong today as well," Head Coach Kella Armstrong said. "Right now, our focus is on putting consistent days together both in practice and in games. As we open conference play, the goal is to string together three solid performances this weekend."

UP NEXT
Queens begins conference play against FGCU at home on Saturday, March 14.

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.