Post-Bulletin staff
ROCHESTER — Riverland softball pitcher Nicki Svoboda fired a three-hit shutout to help her team get a split on Monday against Rochester Community and Technical College.
The Lady Blue Devils of Riverland lost the opening game 6-2 in the Minnesota Community College Conference, South Division doubleheader.
Svoboda then blanked the RCTC Yellowjackets 5-0 in the late game to get the split on the day.
Holly Waltz, Jill Radke, and Carmen Smith all had two hits for the Lady Devils in the opener, but it didn’t translate to very many runs.
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Riverland also committed four errors in the loss and this led to a loss for pitcher Kelly Schelin.
"Schelin was not real sharp, but we didn’t play very good defense behind her," Riverland coach Dave Lillemon said. "The team played like we had not been outside in six days, and it was a little sloppy."
In the late game, Svoboda had a great performance with six strikeouts in the shutout.
Waltz had three hits and scored a pair of runs to spark the offense. Radke had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Schelin also added a double and RBI.
"Their only threat came in the fifth, but we finished it off when a soft liner was hit to Waltz and she threw to second to start a double play," Lillemon said. "After that it was all Nicki and she did a great job on the hill. This is my first win in a couple of years against Rochester and it’s great to get a split against one of the best teams in the division."
Riverland (5-7, 4-4 MCCC South) travels to Worthington on Wednesday for a twinbill against Minnesota West.
RCTC 6, RIVERLAND 2
First game
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Riverland 000 000 2 — 2 8 4
RCTC 102 201 x — 6 7 1
Riverland: Holly Waltz 2-4; Jill Radke 2-4; Carmen Smith 2-3; Tracee Crowley 1-3, RBI. LP: Kelly Schelin 7 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 4 BB, 1 K.
RIVERLAND 5, RCTC 0
Second game
Riverland 110 100 2 — 5 12 1
RCTC 000 000 0 — 0 3 1
Riverland: Holly Waltz 3-4, 3 SB, 2 runs; Radke 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Schelin 2-2, 2B, 2 walks, RBI; Amanda McGuire 1-2, 2 RBI. WP: Nicki Svoboda 7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 6 K.
