SHAWNEE, Okla. - Ninth-ranked Rogers State and sixth-ranked St. Gregory's settled for a split decision as each team picked up a win with seventh inning heroics Tuesday in Shawnee.
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The Lady Cavs claimed the series opener by scoring the only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cortney Reynaga provided the game-winning hit with a two-out single that scored Jessica Munson and gave SGU a 1-0 victory.
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The Hillcats answered the bell with some seventh inning dramatics of their own in the nightcap. Marie Gaudet and Kelli Dunagan belted back-to-back home runs in final frame to propel RSU to a 4-1 win.
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Rogers State (33-7, 12-4) earned its second win over a top 10 opponent this season. St. Gregory's (35-8, 13-5) saw its 16-game winning streak snapped by the Hillcats.
GAME ONE
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Dunagan and SGU's Sharon Bell locked horns in a pitcher's duel in the opener. The two hurlers combined for 17 strikeouts and no earned runs in the game.
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Bell allowed just one hit, a fifth inning single by Jenny Johnson, while yielding just one base runner through the first six innings.
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Munson reached on an error by second baseman Chasidy Austin to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Nicole Tindall sacrificed Munson to second and Jessica Reed followed with a strikeout. Reynaga ripped a 0-2 pitch from Dunagan back up the middle to plate the winning run.
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Dunagan allowed two hits and struck out eight without yielding a walk. Bell tallied nine strikeouts and in the process became the NAIA's career strikeout record holder.
GAME TWO
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Lillian Nevarez scored the first Hillcat run of the day in the top of the third inning of Game 2. Nevarez reached on a bunt single and promptly stole second base. She took third on a pitch in the dirt and scored on a wild throw by the catcher to give the Cats a 1-0 lead.
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Christina Helland tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI double to right field in the bottom of the fourth. Bell tossed three scoreless innings before RSU exploded for three runs in the top of the seventh.
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Nevarez started the at-bat with an infield single and Gaudet followed with her first home run of the season. Dunagan cranked her seventh long ball for good measure and carried a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh. She worked around a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to earn her 21st win of the season.
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Dunagan (21-6) allowed one run on seven hits in the nightcap and also went 2-for-3 at the plate. Nevarez tallied two hits and scored two runs. Bell was touched for four earned runs on five hits in seven innings of work.
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The Hillcats moved to second place in the conference standings following the doubleheader split. RSU will host No. 12 Oklahoma City in a doubleheader Thursday at the Hillcat Complex. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.