Royals go 3-1 Against the Jacks

The Lake Region State College Lady Royals softball team had back to back double headers against Dakota College of Bottineau this past weekend.

April 28, 2018 – The Lumberjacks from Dakota College at Bottineau came to town to play a softball double header today against the Lake Region State College Royals. The two split the contests with the Royals winning the first game 10-2 in 5 innings and the Jacks winning the second by the score of 8-6.

In game one, the Royals jumped out to a quick lead in the first after Sadie Schilling lead off the game with a single, then Cherie Malacas and Amber Stewart each laid down perfectly placed bunts to reach safely loading the bases. After the next two batters got out, Gina Selfe stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam homerun over the left field fence to give the Royals a 4-0 lead. Amber Stewart was in complete control throughout the game but the Jacks were able to score 2 runs in the third, one earned. The ladies responded in the bottom half of the third after Alysha Moser tripled to score Stewart and Selfe giving the Royals a 6-2 lead. It was all Stewart needed but in the bottom of the 5^th, the Royals sealed the victory after Stewart walked, Tai Yamamoto doubled, and Selfe hit her second homerun of the game to make the score 9-2. Kendra Karl then singled and was sacrificed bunted to second by Madison Foss allowing the game winning hit by Precious Rawlins to score Karl to end the game by the 8 run rule, 10-2. For the game, Stewart pitched 5 innings, striking out 6, giving up 4 hits, no walks, and only 1 earned run. Gina Selfe and Amber Stewart each went 2 for 2 with Selfe having those 2 huge homeruns.

In game two, the Royals could not stop the big inning and struggled against the Jacks pitcher, Tascha Livingstone, who struck out 10 Royal batters in 7 innings. The Jacks jumped to a 3-2 lead in the third inning off of starting pitcher Gina Selfe by stringing together several hits tossed in with walks and Royal errors. The Royals were able to regain the lead in the 4^th after a leadoff walk to Kendra Karl and a sacrifice bunt by Madison Foss was thrown away allowing Karl to score. Cherie Malacas then singled in Foss for the RBI making the score 4-3. The Royals then threatened to open it up in the 5^th inning scoring an unearned run but left the bases loaded. With the score 5-3 in favor of the Royals, the Jacks erupted in the top of the 6^th and scored 5 runs to take the lead off of a few well-placed singles, a walk, and a 3 run homerun. The Royals threatened in the 6^th and 7^th innings but could not overcome the 3 run deficit. For the game, Selfe faced 35 batters, gave up 7 earned runs and struck out 6. Amber Stewart went 4 for 4 at the plate, Sadie Schilling was 2 for 4 with a walk, and Alysha Moser and Krista Waldo each had a double.

April 29, 2018 – The Royals softball team traveled to Bottineau, ND today to play a double header against the Lumberjacks of Dakota College. The two teams battled each other in extremely windy conditions that made for interesting and challenge play. With the wind blowing straight out to center field, the Royals were able to win both games by the scores of 12-6 and 4-3. In the first game, the Royals jumped on the scoreboard with 3 runs in the first after Sadie Schilling walked, Amber Stewart reached on an error, and Tai Yamamoto singled to center field. The ball got past the fielder allowing Schilling and Stewart to score. Yamamoto scored when Krista Waldo lined off the fielder at first base. In the second inning, Caitlyn Stuart scored after Schilling singled and a ground out by Cherie Malacas scored her giving the Royals a 4-0 lead. In the third inning, the Royals were able to extend their lead to 5-0 when Tai Yamamoto reached on an error and Gina Selfe doubled her in. But in the bottom of the 3^rd, the Jacks exploded to score 5 runs off of 5 hits, 1 error, and 1 walk to tie the game. The Royals bounced right back scoring 3 in the 4^th inning when Precious Rawlins singled, Sadie Schilling doubled, and Cherie Malacas doubled them in. Malacas scored on a long fly ball by Tai Yamamoto to give the Royals the 8-5 lead. The Jacks scored one in the bottom of the 4^th but the Royals came back in the 6^th scoring 3 off of a solo homerun by Yamamoto and a 2 run homerun by Krista Waldo scoring Gina Selfe. In the 7^th, the Royals got an insurance run when Caitlyn Stuart walked and Kendra Karl singled pinch runner Madison Foss who reached third on 2 passed balls. For the game, Amber Stewart pitched the complete game, striking out 6, walking 4, giving up 5 earned runs off of 10 hits. Tai Yamamoto had 2 hits, one homerun, 4 RBI's, and scored 3 runs. Sadie Schilling had 3 hits. The Royals had 15 hits for the game.

In game 2, Madison Foss took the pitching duties and worked a masterful game with the help of her catcher, Alysha Moser. She gave up 3 runs, one of them earned, off of 5 hits. Working with keeping her ball down and off speed pitches, she was able to work through the Jacks lineup and keeping them off balance. The Royals were only able to get 7 hits off of the Jacks starting pitcher, Tascha Livingstone, but the hits they got counted. Tai Yamamoto scored the first run after some wild pitches and a sacrifice bunt by Alysha Moser got her in. The Jacks responded with a run in the bottom half of the second and then in the top of the third, the Royals scored 3 runs on 2 outs. Cherie Malacas and Amber Stewart singled. Malacas scored on a passed ball then Tai Yamamoto blasted her second homerun of the day to make the score 4 to 1. That was all Foss needed and was able to hold off the Jacks that scored 1 in the 4^th and 6^th innings. For the game, Tai Yamamoto went 3 for 3 with a homerun and 2 RBI's. Foss went 2 for 3 with 2 doubles at the plate.

The Royals are now 4-8 in Mon-Dak conference play and finish up the regular season playing North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Tuesday May 1^st in Wahpeton then home against them on Wednesday May 2^nd. Region XIII tournament play will start Friday May 4^th in Williston.

Go Royals!