OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Third-ranked Oklahoma City topped No. 11 Rogers State with a pair of victories at Ann Lacy Stadium in Oklahoma City Thursday.
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OCU held the Hillcats to just four hits in the doubleheader as the Stars won by scores of 5-1 and 4-1. Rogers State (40-10, 14-7) is now in fourth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. RSU will host Northwestern Oklahoma State in a make-up doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Hillcat Complex. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
GAME ONE
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The Stars scored four runs over the first four innings en route to a 5-1 victory in the opener.
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Melody Murphy doubled to lead off the bottom of the first inning and scored the first run of the day on a bunt single by Kasey Hobens. Murphy started the third inning with a single and made it 2-0 on an RBI groundout by Melissa Moore. A two-run home run off the bat of Katie Carroll gave the Stars a four run lead in the fourth inning.
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The Cats scored their lone run in the top of the sixth inning. Senior Chasidy Austin reached on an error to start the inning and went to second on a single by Lillian Nevarez. Marie Gaudet's sacrifice bunt moved Austin to third and she later scored on a wild pitch.
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OCU's Brittanie Ellis singled and scored in the bottom of the sixth to reach the final margin, 5-1. Elizabeth Oberst (9-2) earned the win with a complete game. She allowed one run on two hits while striking out seven. Kelli Dunagan took the loss for RSU after giving up five earned runs on nine hits.
GAME TWO
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The Hillcats grabbed an early lead but couldn't hold on as OCU scored four unanswered runs to claim the doubleheader sweep, 4-1.
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Gaudet reached on an error in the top of the first inning and scored on a two-out double by Randi Tyler to put RSU in front, 1-0. The Stars tied it up when Hobens singled home Mindy Crabaugh in the bottom of the third. Amanda Howard gave OCU the lead with an RBI single to right field in the fourth and Erin Slettvet followed with homer to left in the fifth. Murphy capped the scoring with an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth.
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Julie Harvey (10-4) picked up the win with seven innings of work. Her line was nearly identical to Oberst's in the first game. Harvey surrendered one run on two hits while striking out five. Dunagan (26-9) took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits.
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Oklahoma City (39-10, 22-3) clinched the SAC regular season championship with the sweep and will be the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.