CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State rebounded from a season opening loss to salvage a two-game split with Arkansas Tech while enduring sub-freezing temperatures at the Hillcat Complex Tuesday afternoon.
 

The Hillcats were blanked 2-0 in their season debut and managed just three hits off the Golden Suns' Dana Aldrich. In the nightcap RSU's bats came alive for nine runs on 12 hits to record the first victory of 2008, 9-3.

GAME ONE
Tiphanie Moon put ATU on the board in the second inning with a leadoff double. Molly Schweigert moved her to third on a sacrifice bunt and Krista Cifuentes chased her home with an RBI single to left field. It would be the only run the Golden Suns would need in the opener as Aldrich tossed seven scoreless innings for the visitors. She held the Hillcats without a hit until the fifth inning when Randi Tyler beat out an infield single. Katie Bointy reached on the error and the Hillcats had the tying run in scoring position with two outs when Sara Walkup flew out to the left field wall to end the threat.

Lillian Nevarez and Tanya Koch posted singles in the final two innings, but the Hillcats were unable to advance a runner past second base the rest of the way. ATU added an insurance run in the top of the seven with the help of an error and two wild pitches to reach the final margin, 2-0.
 

Sophomore Kelli Dunagan suffered the loss for RSU despite pitching seven solid innings. She allowed one earned run and recorded 10 strikeouts with just one walk.

GAME TWO
The Golden Suns took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with two hits off of RSU starter Jenny Johnson. RSU responded with a run in the bottom of the first and three more in the second to take the lead. Dunagan plated the first run of the day for the Hillcats with a two-out RBI double to center field. Megan Wood and Nevarez added two-out RBI hits in the second inning to give RSU a 4-2 advantage.

Johnson gave way to Dunagan on the mound after two innings of work and the hard throwing right-hander picked up right where she left off in Game 1. Pitching with a lead for the first time, Dunagan allowed one earned run on five hits over the final five innings to record the victory. The Collinsville High School product also went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and four RBI in Game 2.
 

RSU added a run in fifth and blew the game open with a four-run sixth. Wood finished with three hits while Nevarez and Katie Bointy added two knocks apiece.
 

Rogers State (1-1) evened its record by taking Game 2 and will take the next week off before hitting the road next Tuesday. The Hillcats will travel to Bacone College (Muskogee, OK) for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.