CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Queens softball continued its hot early start to the season, as they grabbed a pair of wins against Marist and North Carolina A&T to improve to 4-2 early on this season.

QUEENS VS. MARIST
After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, Queens quickly tied and eventually grabbed the lead in the bottom of the inning, as Kayla Smith and Haley Hmiel smashed back-to-back home runs to pull ahead, 2-1. 

Marist would re-claim the lead in the top of the third but Queens remained resilient and pushed right back in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Gerlea Patton singled up the middle to bring home Kayla Smith which cut the deficit to 4-3. One batter later, found open space through the left side as Kiana Termine and Kasidi Staley crossed the plate to put the Royals back on top, 5-4. 

One inning later with the score knotted at five, Kaylee DeJesus knocked a single in her lone at-bat of the game, bringing home another pair of runs to make the score 7-5 in favor of Queens. 

After Autumn Courtney got the start on the mound, Abby Craver would come in to pitch the final two innings and stave off Marist's comeback attempt and earn her first victory as a Royal. 

QUEENS VS. NORTH CAROLINA A&T
Queens carried the momentum into the second game of the day as they were able to get on the board early. 

Kayla Smith, who reached base safely in all six at-bats today, cracked her second home run of the day, a two-run shot over the left-center field wall. 

One inning later, Lindsey DeRoeck hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Ashlyn Mickler which would eventually be the winning run. 

COACH'S WORDS

"We experienced pressure situations today, which was great" said head coach Stacey Schramm. "We learned how to persevere, overcome adversity, and compete for a win. It was an invaluable learning experience that will serve us well during the course of our season."

NEXT UP
Queens will face off with North Carolina A&T once more tomorrow, February 19 at 11:30AM.