Post-Bulletin, Austin MN 

SAUK RAPIDS -- The Riverland softball team won two out of its three games at the MCAC State Tournament on Friday and advanced to next week's Region 13A Tournament.

In the opener of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference State Tournament, Northland beat Riverland 7-4. The Lady Blue Devils of Riverland then came back to beat Fond Du Lac Community College 5-4 and Ridgewater 5-3 in elimination games.

Kaylee Newman took the pitching loss in the opener for Riverland, but had saves in the other two games. Anna Breault started and won the second and third games of the day.

"There were so many heroes," Riverland coach Dave Lillemon said. "It was incredible pitching along with solid defense. We also had a lot of good hitting to get those two wins."

After the loss in the opener, the Lady Devils scored two runs in the top of the first inning to set the tone in the second game. Carmen Smith led the way offensively with three RBIs in the win. Smith had a two-run single in the first inning rally and added another RBI in the fifth.

The final game of the day was against an old nemesis from the MCAC South. In his three years of coaching Riverland softball, Lillemon's teams had gone 0-12 against Ridgewater. That dubious streak is now over.

Riverland rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat Ridgewater. The big rally started when Smith walked to lead off the inning. Justine Sanvick then singled to put runners at the corners.

Sanvick then stole second and Liz Triplett hit into a groundout to score Smith. Andrea Exline followed with a pinch hit RBI single. Mandy May got on base with a bunt and after an out, the runners were at second and third with two outs.

Laura Meyer, who had three hits on the day to extend her streak to 29 games, stroked an RBI single to score Exline with the go-ahead run. Thenedra Corey capped the rally with an RBI single.

"We had two big, two-out hits and that put us in the region," Lillemon said. "We're the highest finishing MCAC South team left at state, so we get to move on. The girls did a great job and we're still alive in the hunt for a state title."

Riverland (17-15) played Rochester this morning in an elimination game, with the winner playing again at noon.

NORTHLAND 7, RIVERLAND 4

First game

Riverland 003 010 0 -- 4 14 3

Northland 230 200 x -- 7 8 1

Riverland: Danielle Lynch 2-4, 2 RBIs; Mandy May 2-3; Justine Sanvick 2-3, run, RBI; Carmen Smith 2-3, 2 runs; Thenedra Corey 2-4; Laura Meyer 1-4. LP: Kaylee Newman 6 IP, 7 R, 2 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K.

RIVERLAND 5, FOND DU LAC 4

Second game

Riverland 201 011 0 -- 5 14 2

Fond Du Lac 000 013 0 -- 4 9 0

Riverland: Meyer 2-3, run, RBI; Jill Radke 2-3, 2B, 2 runs; Smith 2-3, 3 RBIs; Lynch 2-4, run; May 2-2; Sanvick 1-4, 2B. WP: Anna Breault 5 1/3 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K. SV: Newman 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K.

RIVERLAND 5, RIDGEWATER 3

Third game

Ridgewater 020 001 0 -- 3 12 0

Riverland 000 104 x -- 5 10 1

Riverland: Meyer 1-4, run, RBI; Corey 2-3, RBI; Sanvick 3-3, run. WP: Breault 5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 9H, 1 BB, 1 K. SV: Newman 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K.