Seventh-inning slip: Jacksonville University goes down late to Queens in ASUN softball

A seventh-inning slump turned into a first-round exit for Jacksonville University softball.

Seventh-seeded Queens rallied with a pair of two-out runs in the final frame to defeat JU 2-1 in Tuesday's opening round of the ASUN softball tournament, held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.

One out from victory, the Dolphins (26-25) couldn't seal the ballgame in what had been a near-flawless outing up to that point from starter Skylar Waggoner (6-12). Pinch-hitter Abby Craver cracked a game-tying single to score Brooke Piper, and shortstop Kayla Smith followed with the go-ahead hit to plate Natalie Windham.

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Autumn Courtney (21-9) retired JU in order in the bottom of the seventh as Queens (29-24) clinched its first tournament victory since joining the ASUN. Queens had also taken two of three from JU during the final regular season series on May 3-4.

The Dolphins had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when catcher Averi Harcus doubled to left center to score former Creekside High School standout Madison Bratek.

JU's wait for another ASUN tournament championship continues, a title drought now stretching back 13 years to 2011. The Dolphins are 11-20 in the competition all-time.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Seventh-inning slip: Jacksonville University goes down late to Queens in ASUN softball