Softball Battles During MonDak Competition

The Royals softball team played 8 games over the week against Mon-Dak conference opponents Miles Community College (MCC) and Bismarck State College (BSC).

Over the course of these games they won 5, lost 2, and tied 1. In the first two games against BSC, the Royals won by the scores of 9 to 1 and 14 to 1. Alex Chapman pitched the 6 inning win in the first game giving up 5 hits, walking 2, and striking out 1. Ainsley Olson pitched the second game giving up just 1 hit, walking none, and striking out 5. Tyra Robertson went 8 for 8 at the plate over the double header with 2 doubles, a triple, and 3 stolen bases. Emery Miller hit a homerun in game 2 and was 3 for 3 at the plate. Dani Ruest, Hailie Blackburn, Lainee Miller, and Sydney Beneda all had multiple hits in the game.

In the first of 4 games against Miles Community College, Ainsley Olson pitched the complete game shutout giving up 8 hits, walking 1, and striking out 7. Tyra Robertson went 3 for 4 at the plate with a homerun and a double. Olson also had a homerun. Sam Shumway scored two runs and was 1 for 2 hitting.

The second game of the day found the Royals coming up short losing 9-0. Emery Miller was 2 for 2 with a double and Lainee Miller had one hit for the only hits of the game. Mardi Scutchings took the pitching loss for the Royals. She pitched 2 and 2/3 innings giving up the 9 runs. Alex Chapman came in relief pitching the remaining 2 and 1/3 innings giving up no runs with 3 strikeouts.

In the third game of the series the Royals came up short by the score of 3-11. Alex Chapman pitched 5 and 2/3 innings giving up the 11 runs off 13 hits, 3 were homeruns. Tyra Robertson and Ainsley Olson each had 2 hits in the game. Sam Shumway, Emery Miller, Jacey Ledochowski and Hailie Blackburn had one hit apiece.

The fourth game of the series with MCC was a wild and chilly event. With the temperatures dropping and precipitation in the air, the Royals jumped out to a 4 run lead in the top of the first only to have Miles score 6 runs in the bottom half of the inning. A few errors and timely hits allowed for the 6 runs. But in the second inning, the Royals battled back scoring 3 runs to take the lead again. A scoreless third inning led to the fourth inning where Miles CC scored one run to tie the game at 7 runs. At that point, with the wind and snow continuing, the game was cancelled and declared a tie. Tyra Robertson was 3 for 3 in the game with a stolen base. Sam Shumway, Lainee Miller, and Hunter Ganske each had one hit. Ainsley Olson pitched the 4 innings, giving up 8 hits, 3 earned runs, striking out 3 and one homerun.

The last two games of the week were against Bismarck State College. The Royals swept the double header by the scores of 9-5 and 14-0. Alex Chapman picked up the pitching win in game one. Ainsley Olson got the win in game two giving up only one hit and striking out 10 batters. Emery Miller and Dani Ruest had homeruns in the double header. Ruest's homerun was a grand slam that broke the second game open.

Next action for the Royals is May 1 and 2 against Dakota College at Bottineau with sub-Region 13 games on May 4 and 5 in Glendive, MT.

Go Royals!