In order to keep their state tournament hopes alive, the girls softball team will have to win two elimination games tonight. To begin their section tournament, the Royals beat up on St. Louis Park 16-0, then lost to Benilde-St. Margaret’s 5-2.

Since the Section 6AAA softball tournament is a double-elimination tournament, the Royals weren’t eliminated after their loss to Benilde. However, the Royals were forced to play their second game of the day, against Orono, winning 7-1 to keep their season alive. They would have to win back-to-back games on Wednesday, May 27 in order to reach the state tournament.

The first game of the 27th for the Royals was against sixth-seeded Wayzata. In the teams’ two meetings this year, the Royals won 8-0 and 11-0. In this matchup, the magnitude was much higher, but that didn’t keep the Royals from continuing their winning ways as they beat the Trojans 5-2.

A win against Wayzata set up game two of their double-header, against the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights. Lauren Feagler, senior, who started against Wayzata, was also slated to get the start against the Red Knights. For most of the game, the Royals and Knights were deadlocked at one run apiece. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Royals pulled away by scoring three runs. The Royals survived elimination once more as they defeated the Red Knights 4-1.

The win over Benilde set up another possible doubleheader, with state on the line in both games.

Tonight, the Royals will face second-seeded Buffalo, a team with a 17-5 overall record, at 5 p.m. at Miller Park in Eden Prairie. If the Royals beat the Bison at 5, they will face off again at 7 p.m. for the section championship. However, if the Royals lose at 5, their season will be over and the Bison will advance to the state tournament.