The Royals softball team played 3 games today in Phoenix going 1-2

The Royals won the first game against Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) by the score of 6-4 behind a strong pitching performance by Hanna Gary and strong defense. The Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third after a double by Mackenzie Sansom who scored when Kiahna Chumola singled her in. Haunani Morton doubled scoring Chumola and Cheyenne Gurley drove her in with an infield error. In the bottom half of the third, the CGCC Coyotes stormed back with a double and triple from back to back batters then a sacrifice fly scored the second run of the inning making the score 3-2. There was no scoring until the sixth when Royals scored 3. Jaimie Shaw reached on an error then Jade Ledochowski and Kiahna Chumola had back to back singles to score Shaw. Haunani Morton, with her second double of the game, knocked in Chumola and Ledochowski to bring the lead to 6-2. CGCC responded in the bottom of the 6th scoring 2 but Gary was able to shut the door and finish the game retiring the last 4 batters she faced. For the game, Hanna Gary pitched 7 strong innings giving up 4 earned runs, 2 strike outs, 2 walks facing 31 batters. The Royals had 5 doubles in the game. Two by Morton, 1 each by Courtney Fines, Mackenzie Sansom, and Kiahna Chumola. Chumola went 3 for 3, Fines was 2 for 3.

Later, the Royals went to Gateway Community College (GCC)to play a double header dropping both games by the scores of 8-0 and 7-5. In the first game the Royals were only able to get 1 hit by Kiahna Chumola off of pitcher Serendida Marquez. Mackenzie Sansom and Hannah Hextall pitched for the Royals giving up 6 earned runs off of 7 hits, 5 walks, and 1 strike out.

In the second game, GCC  jumped out to a 3 run lead after 1 inning off of pitcher Alaina McKinnon. She held GCC until the 5th when they scored 1 run. The Royals got 1 run in the second to cut the lead to 2 when Kiahna Chumola singled and scored on an errant throw by the catcher. It wasn't until the 5th when the Royals got on the hit parade scoring 3 runs. Alaina McKinnon and Cheyenne Gurley walked then with 2 outs, Emma Gary tripled scoring Hannah Hextall (running for McKinnon) and Gurley. Hanna Gary singled in Emma Gary for the 3rd run of the inning giving the Royals a 4-3 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, GCC tied the game off of a couple of well placed singles and a walk. In the 6th, the Royals went down in order and in the bottom half of the inning, GCC off of McKinnon and relief pitcher Hanna Gary. This set up a dramatic finish. With two outs and nobody on base, Rebekah Stoe singled, Emma Gary walked, Hanna Gary singled and Jaimie Shaw hit a hard shot to the shortstop who could not handle it scoring Stoe. Then with two outs and a full count, Kiahna Chumola (who had the only hit against the relief pitcher Serendida Marquez in the first game) was called out on strikes.

For the week, the Royals won 2 of the 13 games played against the well experienced, upper level, and some nationally ranked teams. It was the first 2 Arizona wins for the young program that will take this experience into the upcoming conference season. They are now 3-12 on the season. The teams next games will be at the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount MN Friday March 25th against Dakota County Technical College and Madison College (WS).