OREM — Exactly how it happened is uncertain. By all indications Roy should have lost Tuesday's first-round playoff game at Mountain View. In fact, the game shouldn't have even been very close.
But in the clutch, everything went right for the Royals as they upset the Bruins 4-2, advancing to the second round and sending the state's fourth-ranked team on an early detour through the losers' bracket.
For six out of seven innings Mountain View pitcher Chelsey Mikalauski was nearly perfect, allowing just a single hit and striking out five batters. In the sixth inning, however, the wheels came off and Roy racked up four runs on four hits to break open a scoreless game and burst the Bruins' bubble.
"All of the sudden they executed a couple of bunts we needed at crucial times and got us on base," said Roy coach Amy Patterson. "The kids are fighters. They come out and get the job done at the right time."
The way things had gone for most of the game, the Royals were probably just that happy the game was still tied in the sixth.
In the bottom of the third inning with two outs, Mountain View had the bases clogged and looked poised to take the lead. Roy Pitcher Kayle George came to the rescue striking out the Bruins' Kaylee Worthington to end the inning.
Two innings later the Bruins had loaded the bases again, this time with only one out. Mikalauski attempted a bunt to bring the go-ahead run home, but third baseman Lindsey Knudson scooped up the ball as it rolled down the baseline and made a perfect throw to home plate to keep the run from scoring.
Worthington popped out to left field moments later, and the Royals had dodged another bullet.
In the sixth inning Shelly Stone and Knudson led for Roy with two singles, and George was walked to load the bases. Sasha Stone followed with a double that brought two runners home. Kelsie Fowers then hit an RBI single and Cydney Bertagnolli brought the fourth run home on a sacrifice fly before the Bruins were finally able to end the inning.
"They put the ball in play, and we couldn't make a play," said Bruin coach Cal Jones. "We didn't make a play when we were supposed to. It's all about making plays. That's part of playing defense."
Mountain View made a brief rally with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Roy again made a defensive stand with the bases loaded, and Knudson made an excellent stop on a grounder and tagged the runner from second base to record the third out.
Roy will play Murray in the second round on Thursday, while the Bruins will look to keep their season alive against Provo.
In other softball tournament games Tuesday:
4A PLAYOFFS
BOX ELDER 3, LONE PEAK 2:Misty Burton's single scored Brandi Christopher and gave the Bees a dramatic win over Lone Peak. Jess Allen earned the win, throwing a complete game with seven strikeouts.
SPANISH FORK 11, WEST 0:Bridgett Miller pitched three strong innings, striking out six batters, on her way to the win. Spanish Fork's offense came alive early, scoring five runs in the first.
MURRAY 6, PROVO 1:Whitney Holmes had a double and triple, and Brittany Parker pitched a four-hitter as Murray beat Provo.
OREM 16, SKY VIEW 3: Orem's Marsha Heimuli went 2-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs and scored two runs to lead the Tiger offense. Christine McKonkie added two more runs, two hits, and had three RBIs.
BONNEVILLE 10, WOODS CROSS 0: Five Lakers each had two hits for Bonneville in its easy win over Woods Cross in the 4A tournament. Shay Jenkins, Tiffany Dow, Karlie Garrett, Terri Grilz and Melonie Chase all went 2-3. Mandy Allen tossed a one-hitter with eight strikeouts for the Lakers.
5A PLAYOFFS
JORDAN 8, KEARNS 1: Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Beetdiggers exploded for eight runs off eight hits to easily defeat Kearns. Jordan's Shawnee LePrey drove in two RBIs off two hits in the decisive fifth.
FREMONT 8, RIVERTON 0:Haley Schumers recorded her 10th shutout of the season as Fremont rolled to victory. Fremont's Alicia Sessions led a balanced offensive attack, hitting 2-for-3 with one RBI.
ALTA 5, DAVIS 0:Corie Jensen threw a no-hitter as Alta beat the Darts in the 5A tournament. Jensen struck out 15 batters and allowed two walks.
HUNTER 7, WEBER 2:Keshia Elizondo celebrated her 18th birthday by throwing a complete game to earn the win for Hunter against the Warriors. Elizondo recorded five strikeouts in the opening round of the state tournament.
COPPER HILLS 5, LAYTON 4: After Whitney Maglish's single scored a run to put Copper Hills ahead in the ninth, Jerrica Hohenschelt scored on a fielder's choice to ensure the Grizzlies made it past Layton in the 5A tournament.
TAYLORSVILLE 10, HILLCREST 2: Taylorsville's Diana Phillips earned the complete-game win, striking out six batters. Phillips also went 4-for-5 from the plate. Staci Hemingway had a two-run home run in the third inning and had four RBIs.
BINGHAM 13, CLEARFIELD 3:Somer Flores pitched four strong innings, allowing just three runs on three hits. Shandy VanOrden led Bingham from the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored. Amber Sacket went 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored for the Miners.
SKYLINE 6, VIEWMONT 5: Haley Duckworth went 3-for-4 for Skyline as the Eagles rallied in the seventh inning, scoring four runs. In the losing effort, Shasta Tyteca had three hits to lead Viewmont.