Royals softball remains undefeated with 11-4 win over Buffalo

The Rogers softball team used 15 hits, including home runs by Amanda Barnacle and Lauren Freeberg, to defeat visiting Buffalo 11-4 on April 12. The victory kept the Royals undefeated at 5-0 on the young season. Buffalo fell to 0-3.

The Royals scored in every inning except the 5th, and led 8-0 before Buffalo scored 3 runs in the top of the sixth. Rogers answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead back to eight, and an 11-3 lead. Buffalo tacked on a run in the top of the seventh for the final 11-4 score.

In addition to the home runs by Barnacle and Freeberg, the Royals had many offensive contributors. Nine different players had hits, with Kami Messer going 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs, and Lexie Young going 2 for 3 with a double and 4 RBIs, leading the way.

Kayla O’Keefe got the win on the mound for the Royals, pitching 3 scoreless innings on 2 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Breanna Ness earned a save with three innings of relief, giving up 1 earned run, a walk, and notching 3 strikeouts. Avery Freeberg pitched the seventh for the Royals.

The Royals opened the scoring in the first inning when Sydney Bailey raced home on a Lexie Young bunt hit, and Ness drove in courtesy runner Ashley Schoon-Kollie from second with a base hit for a 2-0 lead.

Rogers made it 4-0 in the second, when O’Keefe scored on Messer’s second hit of the game, and Freeberg scored on a ground out by Young.

The Royals’ Olivia Ohme led off the third inning with a double and scored after a couple of Buffalo wild pitches for a 5-0 lead. Barnacle then drove a 3-1 pitch over the center field fence to push the Royals lead to 6-0, after three innings.

Rogers stretched their lead to 7-0 in the fourth, when Bailey and Schoon-Kollie scored on a double by Young to make it 8-0.

After Buffalo tallied 3 runs in the top of the sixth, Rogers’ Freeberg led off the Royals’ sixth with a home run to center to push the lead back to 9-3. Bailey and Messer then reached on back to back Buffalo errors, Bailey scoring on a sacrifice fly by Young, and Schoon-Kollie scoring on a base hit by Ness for an 11-3 lead.

Buffalo’s run in the top of the seventh made for the final 11-4 score.

After enjoying 5 home games to start the season, the Royals will now travel for their next six games, returning home on Tuesday, April 30, vs. Robinsdale Armstrong.