Rapid City Stevens powers past Mitchell softball
May 8—MITCHELL — The Rapid City Stevens softball team built an early cushion and never looked back on Friday, defeating Mitchell 17-4 in five innings at McWhirter Field. Stevens wasted little time getting the offense rolling, erupting for six runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Audrinna Colhoff's two-RBI single. Joslyn Thompson also delivered in the opening frame, driving in two runs of her own as Stevens quickly gained control.
Mitchell responded in the bottom half of the first. Brooklyn Schlimgen delivered the big swing for the Kernels, ripping a two-RBI triple that brought home Emma Hegg and Mallory Miedema to trim the deficit. But the momentum was short-lived.
Stevens added three more runs in the top of the second and tacked on two more in the third to stretch the lead to 11-2. A decisive fifth inning saw the Raiders score six runs on five hits, pushing the margin far enough to trigger the run rule. Mitchell managed one final highlight in the bottom of the fifth when Miedema stole home to account for the Kernels' final run before the last out was recorded.
Offensively, Stevens outhit Mitchell 14-3 and benefited from a more consistent defensive performance, as the Kernels committed four errors compared to the Raiders' three. Brooklyn Schlimgen paced the Kernels at the plate, finishing 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Miedema and Delaney Linke each recorded a hit for MHS.
In the circle, Rylee Jennings started for Mitchell and pitched four innings. She allowed nine hits and 11 runs (five earned), while striking out three batters and walking two. Stevens was led by a dominant showing from Colhoff, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBIs.