Hartsville, S.C.----The Queens University Royals tied the game in the top of the seventh with a solo homer, while getting a two-out two-run single in the top of the ninth en route to a 3-1 victory over Wingate University in the opening round of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference softball tournament. The sixth-seeded Royals improve to 23-25 overall, while the third-seeded Bulldogs fall to 30-15 overall.

Sydney Ditto was one-for-three with two RBI to lead the Queens attack. Ashton Whitaker added a homer for the Royals.

Senior outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) was one-for-three with an RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior outfielder Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) added a double and a run scored for the Bulldogs

Wingate got on the board in the bottom of the second. Wilson led off the frame with a double down the right field line, then moved to third on a sacrifice. She scored on a two-out RBI single from Adams to make it 1-0.

That was the score in the top of the seventh when Whitaker led off the frame with a pinch-hit solo homer, making it 1-1 and sending the game to extras.

After a scoreless eighth, the Royals got runners on first and second via a pair of walks. Ditto then lined a two-out two-run single to right center, giving the Royals their first lead of the day.

Lyndey McCurry got the win for Queens, allowing a run on three hits in nine innings, striking out four. Senior right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 19-12. She allowed three runs on five hits in nine innings, striking out four and walking four.

Both teams are back in action Friday morning. Wingate will face the loser of the Catawba vs. Newberry contest in an elimination game at 10 a.m. Queens faces the winner of the Catawba-Newberry game at 10 a.m.