WILSON, N.C.-Junior Elizabeth Webb led host Barton College with four hits and three RBI but the Queens University of Charlotte softball team swept Saturday's Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader by scores of 5-2 and 9-3 at a windy Jeffries Field.
The Royals – who are the two-time reigning Conference Carolinas Tournament Champions – ripped 26 hits on the day to move over .500 at 15-14 overall and 7-5 in the league. The Lady Bulldogs have yet to win a league game at home this season (0-6), falling to 16-20 and 2-6.
Barton will try and bounce back at Belmont Abbey College on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Webb, a utility player from Wilson, N.C., has hit safely in eight consecutive games. Senior Jessica McFadden (Wilmington, N.C.) matched Webb by hitting safely four times. McFadden successfully swiped a base in each game to increase her league leading stolen base total to 39.
Freshman Kaitlyn Cheek (Richmond, Va.) led Queens with five hits including three doubles. Classmate Emma Shultz (Silver Spring, Md.) and senior Maria Goode (Charlotte, N.C.) each added four base knocks. Senior Alisha Waldrop (McDonough, Ga.) drove in a total of five Royals runs with three hits including the only home run of the afternoon.
GAME ONE: Queens 5, Barton 2
The Royals scored in four of seven innings and senior Brandy Jester (Georgetown, Del.) tossed a complete game as Queens seized the opener 5-2. Jester (9-11) had eight strikeouts and only gave up one run in the fifth and seventh innings for her 19th complete game of the season.
Junior counterpart Emily Jordan (Goldsboro, N.C.) kept the Lady Bulldogs in the game only allowing three earned runs in her complete game effort but Barton stranded 10 runners on base for minimal run support.
Webb ended Jester's shutout bid with an RBI-single in the fifth. Webb drove in the BC's second run with another base hit in the seventh. Barton had the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh but Jester ended the contest with a strikeout. McFadden had a pair of singles and a walk and was the scoring Bulldog on both of Webb's run-producing hits.
All 12 of the Royals hits were singles. Sophomore Megan Lathbury (Georgetown, Del.) had the biggest hit with a gap shot into left-center that scored Queens' final two runs in the sixth.
GAME TWO: Queens 9, Barton 3
A three-run homer by Waldrop in the third inning opened up a close game as Queens completed the sweep with a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.
Waldrop drove in the Royals first run with a double in the second that plated Cheek, who led off the frame with her own double. Cheek was 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBI.
Barton pulled to within two, 5-2, with two runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth. A two-run, standup double by junior Kendall Street (Bertie, N.C.) put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard while a Webb run-producing double knocked in the hosts final run.
Queens responded with a couple runs in both the sixth and seventh innings and Jester returned to the mound with two scoreless innings of relief to end Barton's comeback chances. Jester fanned three more Bulldogs for 11 K's on the day, which increased her conference leading total to 124.
Junior starter Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla.) – the reigning Co-Pitcher of the Year in the league – picked up the win. Dodge (6-3) tossed the first five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while recording a pair of strikeouts.
Freshman Autumn Pittman (Pikeville, N.C.) was a perfect 3-for-3 with three singles while also hurling four innings of relief for classmate Rebecca Polaschek (Raeford, N.C.), who took the loss in only her second collegiate start.
