Royals Softball Goes 2-2 in Wisconsin

The Royals softball team took to the road and headed to Rhinelander Wisconsin to play some games in the Hodag dome against Madison College and Bay College on Tuesday March 16^th and Wednesday March 17^th. Overall the Royals went 2-2 with both wins over Bay College. Madison College is currently ranked nationally and demonstrated why they have that designation.

March 16, 2021

In the first game, Madison College won 8-0 ending the game in the bottom of the 5^th after a 3 run homerun. The Royals were only able to get one hit from Jacey Ledochowski. Ainsley Olson pitched for the Royals giving up 6 earned runs off 7 hits, 2 homeruns, and striking out 2.

In the second game, the Royals played Bay College and won by the score of 4-1 scoring 1 run in the 3^rd and 3 runs in the 4^th innings. In the 3^rd inning, Jasmine Molina reached first on a walk, stole second base, then Junishea Cantero hit a double down the left field line scoring Molina. In the 4^th inning, Lainee Miller singled, Emery Miller singled, then Jacey Ledochowski singled scoring Lainee Miller. With 2 out and bases loaded, Tyra Robertson doubled scoring Ledochowski and Ainsley Olson to give the Royals the lead they would not relinquish. Alex Chapman pitched 5.66 innings and Ainsley Olson pitched 1.33 innings. Chapman left the game in the first inning after being hit by a line drive but returned in the 3^rd to finish the game. Chapman gave up 1 earned run off 3 hits and striking out 4. Olson gave up 1 hit and struck out 1.

March 17, 2021

In the first game of the day against Bay College the Royals jumped out to a 3 run lead after Emery Miller hit her first homerun of the season scoring herself, Sam Shumway, and Lainee Miller. Bay College scored one in the second off a solo homerun, then another in the 5^th inning to cut the lead to 3-2. Bay College scored one more in the top of the 6^th inning to tie the game. In the bottom of the 6^th, the Royals scored 3 runs. Emery Miller reached on an error, Jacey Ledochowski singled, then Ainsley Olson singled scoring both of them. After Olson stole third, Hailie Blackburn's base hit scored her making the score 6-3 in favor of the Royals. In the top of the 7^th inning, Bay College lead off the inning with another solo homerun cutting the lead and making the score 6-4. With 2 out and 2 runners on, Sam Shumway caught the long fly ball over the top of the fence to end the game in dramatic fashion and sealing the victory! Ainsley Olson pitched the game going the entire 7 innings giving up 3 earned runs off 10 hits, 3 homeruns, and striking out 9 batters.

In game two, the Royals stayed with Madison College for 5 innings before Madison exploded for 11 runs in the final 2 innings making the final score 16-5. Madison scored 1 run in the first and 2 runs in the second before the Royals scored 2 runs in the bottom of the second making the score 3-2. Emery Miller singled and was moved to second by a sacrifice bunt by Jacey Ledochowski but she reached first on an error. Miller and Ledochowski scored off of fielder choice hits from Jasmine Molina and Hailie Blackburn. In the 3^rd inning, Madison again scored two runs but the Royals came right back scoring 2 also. Dani Ruest singled and Sam Shumway doubled to get runners on second and third. Lainee Miller's sacrifice fly scored Ruest and a safety bunt by Emery Miller surprised everyone and scored Shumway. The only other player to score was Tyra Robertson after she doubled and was hit in by Shumway in the 7^th inning. Unfortunately for the Royals, Madison College erupted for 6 runs in the 6^th and 5 runs in the top of the 7^th to hand them the loss. Alex Chapman pitched the entire game for the Royals giving up 13 earned runs, walking 5 batters, and striking out 1.

The Royals (5-6) next games are in Glendive Montana against Dawson Community College on March 27^th & 28^th.