Charlotte, N.C. – Queens got solid work from its pitching staff and took advantage of 14 walks issued by Furman's pitchers to sweep a midweek doubleheader from the Paladins 5-1, 4-3 on Wednesday at the Stick Williams Dream Fields in Charlotte, N.C.
 
Game 1: Queens 5, Furman 1
 
Righthander Autumn Courtney tossed a complete game and fanned seven batters to power Queens to a 5-1 victory in the opener. The sophomore held Furman to a run on three hits over seven innings to improve to 16-7 on the season. One of the nation's leaders in strikeouts, she also fanned her 200^th batter of the season.
 
The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as three of the first four batters earned walks. An error, passed ball, and fielder's choice helped Queens get on the board first before starter Emme Buzhardt escaped the jam.
 
Furman halved the lead in the top of the third inning. Ashlee Lykins was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a grounder and stole third before scoring on Sylvia Burrough's two-out, RBI single to left field.
 
Taylor Miller entered the game to pitch the bottom of the fourth with the Paladins down 2-1 but was plagued with control issues. She walked the first batter she faced, unleashed two wild pitches, and hit the second batter of the inning. After a stolen base and another wild pitch that allowed Queens to extend the margin to 3-1, Buzhardt returned to the circle and limited Queens to a Kayla Smith sacrifice fly that chased home the Royals' fourth run.
 
Buzhardt (2-4) suffered the loss for the Paladins. She limited Queens to one earned run on two hits over four innings but allowed five walks.
 
Ashlyn Mickler went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and scored three runs in the Royals victory.
 
Game 2: Queens 4, Furman 3
 
The first inning struggles continued for the Paladins in game two as Mickler worked a four-pitch walk to start the game and moved to second base on an error. Furman starter Sierra Tufts retired the next two batter, Haley Nelson lined a two-out single down the right field line to stake the Royals to a 2-0 lead.
 
Kiley Perry and Hannah Poole set the table for Furman in the top of the second and the Paladins got on the board when Chloe Fabio legged out an infield single. The Paladins evened the game an inning later. After Burroughs and Ansley Chiang reached on one-out singles, Kiley Perry bounced a ball up the middle that was misplayed allowing the tying run to score.
 
Queens regained control of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Mickler drew a leadoff walk ahead of back-to-back singles from Smith and Kasidi Staley that put the Royals in front 3-2. A squeeze bunt extended the lead to 4-2 before Tufts escaped further damage by starting a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat.
In the top of the seventh, Burroughs led off the frame with a single but pinch runner Charlotte Brooks was called out for leaving first base early. Perry kept Furman's hopes alive with a two-out single and Hannah Poole followed with an RBI double off the left field wall to cut the deficit to 4-3. Queens (21-20) went to the bullpen and reliever Jordan Dunn struck out Hana Hashioka with the tying run on second base to end the game.
 
Dunn registered the save while Abby Craver earned the win to up her record to 3-5. Craver held Furman to three runs on eight hits over 6.2 innings in the circle.
 
Tufts (8-8) limited the Royals to three hits over five innings, but the senior walked six batters and allowed four runs. Furman pitching walked eight total batters in game two and surrendered seven leadoff walks in 12 innings of work during the doubleheader.
 
Burroughs, Perry, and Poole each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Paladins in the nightcap.
 
Furman (19-25) returns to SoCon play this weekend with its first series versus the Wofford Terriers. The Paladins and Terriers play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday at Pepsi Stadium before concluding the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.