Softball goes 2-1 in Rochester

The Lake Region State College Royals softball team traveled to Rochester MN on Saturday February 22 to play 3 games in the Rochester Community and Technical College field dome. Overall they finished with 2 wins and 1 loss.

In the first game, the Royals played College of Lakes County of Illinois and won by the score of 12-5. They jumped out to a quick lead in the game and never looked back. In the first inning, Emery Miller blasted a 3 run homerun over the right center field fence scoring Tyra Robertson and Samantha Shumway who both singled. The second inning continued the hot hitting after Hunter Ganske walked, Dani Ruest doubled, then Abbi Opheikens doubled them in. Shumway then singled scoring Opheikens followed by Miller's second homerun which went way over the left center field fence scoring Shumway. Tehani Yamamoto scored on an errand throw after she stole second base giving the Royals a 9-0 lead. The Lancers from Lakes County scored 2 runs in the 3 and were threatening but the Royals managed to limit the damage by some good defensive plays. In the bottom half of the third, Abbi Opheikens doubled and later scored when Sam Shumway singled giving the Royals a 10-2 lead. In the fourth inning, the Royals again were able to push 2 runs across when Hunter Ganske singled scoring Lexi Davis who walked and stole second. Ganske later scored on a wild throw from the outfield after Dani Ruest singled. In the top of the fifth, the Lancers were able to score 3 runs to extend the game after Corteney Noyes 3 homerun went over the center field fence.  Abbi Opheikens got the win by pitching the complete 7 inning game, giving up 5 runs, 3 earned runs, walking 5, striking out 6, and hitting 4 batters. For the game, Opheikens went 3 for 3 with a double, Tyra Robertson went 2 for 4, Shumway went 2 for 4, Dani Ruest went 2 for 3, and Emery Miller was 2 for 4 with 2 homeruns and 5 RBI's.

In game 2, the Royals played Gogebic Community College winning by the score of 18-0. Seven Lake Region players had hits with 6 players having extra base hits. For the game, Abbi Opheikens went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI's, Tyra Robertson was 1 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBI's, Sam Shumway was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a homerun and 4 RBI's, Sydney Hertlein was 2 for 2 with 1 RBI, Tehani Yamamoto was 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI, Hailie Blackburn was 1 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI's, and Micah Manuel was 1 for 2 with a double. Tehani Yamamoto pitched the 5 innings giving up just 2 hits, walking 4, and striking out 10.

Game 3 of the day was again fellow Mon-Dak opponent, North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). The Royals came up short losing 3 to 8. The Wildcats of NDSCS scored first in the third inning when Maddy Sweep doubled scoring Charee Reyes and Jayante Kotila. The Royals responded in the bottom of the third when Sam Shumway singled scoring Abbi Opheikens who earlier doubled. NDSCS scored in the fourth and then again in the fifth off of Maddy Sweeps homerun. In the bottom of the fifth Sam Shumway singled, stole second, then Tehani Yamamoto singled scoring her making the score 5 to 3. The Royals had several chances to score more but the Wildcats pitcher, Demi Uffelman, was able to pitch her way out of several tough situations. She struck out 9 Royals while giving up 12 hits. For the Royals in the game, Abbi Opheikens was 2 for 3, Sam Shumway was 2 for 4, Emery Miller was 2 for 4, Tehani Yamamoto was 2 for 4, and Emily Wininger was 2 for 4. Lexi Davis and Hailie Blackburn each had singles. Lexi Davis pitched the complete game for the Royals giving up 8 runs, 5 earned runs, on 9 hits while striking out 5 and walking 3.

For the day, the Royals were lead at the plate by Abbi Opheikens with 7 hits in 10 at bats, 9 RBI's, and 4 doubles, Sam Shumway with 7 hits in 12 at bats, 7 RBI's, 2 doubles and 1 homerun, and Emery Miller with 4 hits in 8 at bats, 6 RBI's and 2 homeruns.