Softball gets win in Arizona on day 2

The Royals softball team played a double header against South Mountain Community College today in Phoenix going 1-1. In the first game, the Royals lost 8-0. Alaina McKinnon started pitching but was hit in the leg by a line drive sending her to the bench for the day. Hannah Hextall and Kassi Jones finished the game giving up a total of 8 earned runs on 3 walks and 4 strike outs. The Royals only had 4 hits in the game. Two doubles by Renae Fafard and 2 singles by Emma Gary.

In the second game, the Royals got their first program win in Arizona by defeating SMCC by the score of 4-3. Mackenzie Sansom pitched the complete game win retiring the final 7 hitters. She also got the game winning hit in the 7th scoring Emma Gary from second. The game started out with SMCC scoring 1 run in the second to take the lead. In the top of the third, the Royals scored 3 runs. Renae Fafard singled, Courtney fines then doubled setting up Emma Gary to single them in. After Hanna Gary singled, Emma Gary scored. Then with two outs, Jaimie Shaw doubled but after a great throw, Hanna Gary was thrown out at the plate ending the rally. South Mountain then scored 2 in the 5th to tie the game but some great fielding ended their rally.Two big plays at the plate by Jade Ledochowski stopped the inning setting up a dramatic finish. Mackenzie Sansom retired 3 in a row in the sixth with the help of a pick off play when one of the SMCC runners was caught in a run down. In the top of the 7th, Courtney Fines and Emma Gary both walked. In the process Fines was picked off trying to steal third. After a wild pitch and with two outs, Mackenzie Sansom lined a single to right scoring Emma Gary for the go ahead run. So in the bottom of the 7th with the top of the order up, Sansom popped both left handed slap hitter up then with two outs, Cheyenne Gurley made a great over the shoulder catch from shortstop to seal the victory. For the game, Sansom allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, and had 2 strikeouts. At the plate, Renae Fafard,, Emma Gary, Hanna Gary, Jaimie Shaw (double), and Mackenzie Sansom had one hit a piece. Courtney Fines had 2 hits, one a double.

The Royals now play Glendale Community College Tuesday March 15th.