RCTC Softball Opens Tournament With Two Dramatic Wins at Early Bird Invite
The Rochester Community and Technical College softball team kicked off the Early Bird Invite, earning a pair of comeback victories on February 20. Behind late‑game heroics, timely hitting, and strong relief pitching, the Yellowjackets defeated Minnesota North College–Vermilion 6–5 before powering past Anoka‑Ramsey 12–7 to open the season 2–0.
Game 1: RCTC 6, Vermilion 5
The opener against Vermilion was a showcase of RCTC's balance and never give up attitude. Vermilion struck early, scoring twice in the first and adding a two‑run homer from Adriana Peña in the second to jump ahead 4–0. Another run in the third extended the deficit to 5–2, but from that point forward the Yellowjackets' pitching and defense locked in.
After starter Alyssa Knudson battled through three innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, Zoey Clark entered and completely changed the tone. Clark was dominant across four shutout innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out three to earn her second win of the season.
Offensively, RCTC chipped away. Keiara Daniel sparked the second‑inning rally with a double and later scored on a wild pitch, then added another RBI double in the sixth to cut the lead to 5–3. Clark helped her own cause with an RBI infield single, bringing RCTC within one.
Trailing 5–4 entering the seventh, RCTC delivered the game's defining moment. With two runners aboard, Cason Forbrook lined a clutch single to center, driving in Jayda Bednarek and Gigi Lundi to complete the comeback and seal the walk‑off victory. Forbrook finished with two hits and two RBI, while Daniel added two doubles, two runs, and a stolen base.
Game 2: RCTC 12, Anoka‑Ramsey 7
Game two offered a different script but the same outcome—this time powered by an explosive offensive performance. The Yellowjackets racked up 13 hits, including home runs from Jayda Bednarek and Clark, while every starter reached base at least once.
RCTC struck first in the opening inning but truly broke the game open with a six‑run third. Forbrook tied the game with an RBI single before Clark singled in another run. Ivette Mendoza followed with a two‑run single, and Knudson added an RBI knock of her own. A defensive miscue by Anoka‑Ramsey allowed a seventh run to score, giving RCTC a commanding 7–2 advantage.
Clark again starred, going 3‑for‑3 with a double, a two‑run homer, and three RBI. Bednarek's towering two‑run blast in the fifth added insurance and capped a standout day in which she scored twice and drove in two.
In the circle, Clark pitched four innings to earn her second win, striking out six. Knudson returned in relief to record the save, fanning two over the final three frames.
The Jackets will play on Saturday in Day two of the Early Bird Invitational. RCTC will take on Lake Region State and Northland Community and Technical College. Game times are set for 4:00pm and 6:00pm in the RCTC Dome.
