The sixth-seeded Belmont Abbey softball team dropped its Conference Carolinas Tournament opener to the third-seeded Queens University of Charlotte Royals by a 5-2 score this morning at Byerly Park in Hartsville, South Carolina. Queens advances in the winner's bracket as it improves to 23-23, while the Abbey falls to 20-25. Belmont Abbey will face either Limestone or Coker in an elimination game at 2:00 p.m.

Queens jumped ahead 2-0 in the first with two unearned runs. The Abbey got one back in the second as Kim Anders drew a leadoff walk and scored all the way from first when Megan Mullis dropped down a sacrifice bunt. The throw to first was wild, allowing Anders to score.

The Royals moved ahead 3-1 in the third but the Crusaders inched closer in their half of the inning. Carol-Anne Sherrill ripped a one out single to center, and was lifted for pinch runner Alana Ryczek, on loan from the women's soccer team. Ryczek stole second and scored on a single up the middle from Becca Rothrock to trim the lead to 3-2.

The Abbey escaped a huge jam in the fifth as Queens loaded the bases with nobody out, but Anders retired the next three batters with a strikeout, a popout and a groundout, but the Royals added two insurance runs in the sixth to put the game away. Belmont Abbey went down in order in the seventh.

Chantel Dodge was credited with the win in four innings of relief. She held the Crusaders without a hit, issuing one walk. Anders took the loss. She gave up five runs, two earned, on ten hits.