CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The West Georgia Wolves and the Queens Royals finished the day deadlocked after a doubleheader split to open this weekend's ASUN softball series.
Game One
After two scoreless innings to start the contest, UWG took a 1-0 lead with a single run in the third. Zekylah Boyd walked and then used her speed to swipe second, and moved to third on a productive out. Dixiana Sims then singled her home to put the Wolves up.
Queens would respond with a run against UWG starter Jenna Samuel an inning later, tying it up 1-1 after four.
West Georgia retook the lead in the fifth inning after an error cashed in a Madison Vandergriff leadoff single.
The lead lasted until the bottom of the sixth when a leadoff walk and four hits pushed across two runs for the Royals. Queens starter Kenzie Forrester then gave up a two-out single to Boyd, but stranded the runner in the seventh to earn the complete game win.
Samuel finished the game allowing three earned on nine hits and a pair of walks.
Offensively, West Georgia had just three hits, spread across Boyd, Vandergriff, and Sims.
Game Two
After a quiet first inning for both teams, the Wolves were able to get on the board first with a Vandergriff RBI to bring in Sky Ramos in the top of the second. Ramos was walked and with one out remaining Vandergriff lined a double to left field to bring in the game's first run for a 1-0 West Georgia lead.
The Royals were able to counter with a run of their own, tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second.
UWG would hold Queens scoreless through three innings off the back of Calli Hardison and the resilient defense behind her, while also adding a notch on the scoreboard courtesy of Boyd who would hit a solo shot to left field to regain the lead in the top of the fifth.
The momentum gained in the fifth would linger in the sixth for the Wolves as they tag on two more runs to take a 4-1 lead late in the game. Blaire Bizette would get on the base first with a leadoff single to second, followed by a Shelby Garrett line drive to left field. Ramos would come up to the plate and lay down a SAC bunt that would advance Emerson Miller, who came in to pinch run for Garrett, and Bizette to put the two runners in scoring position at second and third. Vandergriff would then come and finish the job once again with another line drive to bring in both runners to expand the lead.
Queens would eventually add on one more run, but West Georgia would shutout the Royals in the seventh and take a 4-2 win to tie the series at one game apiece.
Hardison would pitch a complete game, with four strikeouts, two earned runs on five hits and zero walks.
In a collective effort offensively, the Wolves finished with six hits and four RBIs.
West Georgia will be back in action tomorrow at 12 p.m. in a rubber match against the Royals to close out the series.
