Softball Splits with Wildcats

The Lake Region State College Softball team played North Dakota State College of Science Wildcats on back to back days in two double headers.

May 1, 2018 – The Lake Region State College (LRSC) Royals softball team traveled to Wahpeton, ND today to play a double header against Mon-Dak Conference opponent North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). The teams split the games, LRSC won the first game 7-5. NDSCS won the second game 3-11 in 5 innings.

In game one, it was scoreless going into the 3^rd inning when Sadie Schilling singled, Cherie Malacas placed a perfect bunt for a single, Amber Stewart grounded to the shortstop who threw the ball away scoring Schilling. Tai Yamamoto then singled in Malacas and Stewart. Caitlyn Stuart later singled to score Yamamoto to give the Royals a 4-0 lead. The Wildcats of NDSCS responded in the bottom half of the inning when a sacrifice fly drove in Sala Veu to cut the lead to 4-1. The Royals were able to get on the scoreboard again in the 5^th inning after Gina Selfe doubled, Madison Foss reached on an error, and Stuart again was able to safely single into right scoring Foss. Selfe scored previously on a wild pitch. In the 6^th, Amber Stewart helped her cause by lining a homerun off the left field pole to give the Royals a 7-2 lead that she would not relinquish. The Wildcats made it interesting scoring 2 in the 6^th and 1 in the 7^th inning but they were not able to overcome the lead. For the game, Stewart pitched the complete 7 inning game, gave up 2 earned runs, struck out 8, walked 5, and hit one batter. Tai Yamamoto, Caitlyn Stuart, and Amber Stewart each had 2 hits in the game.

In game two, the Royals were plagued with a few mishaps and well placed hits by the Wildcats. Gina Selfe started the game and was relieved by Madison Foss. The only runs the Royals were able to muster occurred in the 4^th and 5^th innings. Madison Foss was able to double in Tai Yamamoto and Kendra Karl in the 4^th then in the 5^th, Sadie Schilling scored on a wild pitch. For the game, Selfe pitched 2 innings giving up 3 hits, 3 earned runs, striking out 2 and giving up 1 homerun. Foss pitched 2 and two thirds innings giving up 9 hits, 5 earned runs and walking one.

May 2, 2018 – NDSCS came to Devils Lake to play a Mon-Dak Conference double header and again the two teams split wins in games that featured great pitching, light rain, and gusty winds blowing in. The first game went to the Royals by the score of 4-2, the Wildcats won the second 3-0.

In game one, Amber Stewart set the tone for the day breezing through the first 4 innings facing the minimum 12 batters. The Royals jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Sadie Schilling walked and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cherie Malacas. Stewart then singled and stole second setting up Tai Yamamoto's 2 run double to the right field corner. In the second inning, Caitlyn Stuart scored after a walk and a passed ball enabled her to score giving the Royals a 3-0 lead. In the 4^th inning the Royals again were able to get on the scoreboard when Zoe Willis-Wildman reached on an error and was scored on a bases loaded walk to Sadie Schilling. The Royals had a chance to open the game up but left the 3 runners stranded. The Wildcats were able to score one in the 5^th and one in the 6^th innings. Halie Johnson scored in the 5^th when Erin Nissen doubled and Emily Bakken scored in the 6^th when Bekah Ludden doubled. The Royals pitcher, Amber Stewart, was able to shut the door to seal the 4-2 victory. For the game, Stewart pitched 7 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, and striking out 7. The Royals were only able to get 4 hits off of pitcher Brook Harder and Katie Bjorndahl but made it count.

In game two, the winds picked up blowing straight in which made for challenging play and a pitching duel between NDSCS's Brook Harder and LRSC's Gina Selfe transpired. The Wildcats struck first in the first inning scoring one run off of no hits. Back to back errors to start the game followed by a hit batter gave the Wildcats enough to push one run across. They again scored in the second when Tessa Finley doubled, Shayla Sauer singled, and a missed fly ball allowed Finley to score. Sauer scored on a fielder's choice giving NDSCS a 3 run lead that pitcher Brook Harder would not relinquish. For the game, Gina Selfe pitched 7 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, and striking out 7. The Royals were only able to get 2 hits off of Harder, singles by Gina Selfe and Madison Eriksson.

The Royals now head to Williston to play the Region XIII tournament 4th and 5th

Go Royals!