CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Roger State softball team kicked off the 2011 season with a doubleheader sweep over Bacone College on Tuesday afternoon at Hillcat Complex.
The Hillcats battled their way to a 9-6 victory in game one, highlighted by a solo shot belted by senior Logan Zamora in the fourth inning. The Cats recorded a 6-2 victory in the nightcap as senior Dina Ortiz buried a two-out solo homer over the left field fence in the fifth inning to close out the scoring for RSU.
GAME ONE
The Hillcats posted three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead after allowing one run in each of the first two innings. Senior Brittany White hit a single down the first base line to plate Dina Ortiz. Logan Zamora scored while the defense was distracted by a rundown at second base in which White was called safe at second. Fauchier walked and acquired the defense's attention, allowing White to score, before being picked off for the third out.
The Cats retired the side in the top of the third and added a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Sarah Harvey led off the inning with a double. Ashlee Dillman pinch ran for Harvey and scored on a ground out to second by Linsey Curtis. Katie Bointy plated the second run off a single to left field by Katrina Loy.
Zamora blasted the first home run of the season in the fourth. The Sun City, Cal. native belted the solo shot over the left field fence to give the Cats a 6-2 lead.
Paige Forehand put Bacone back in the mix with the three-run homer in the fifth. The homer knotted the score 6-6 in the top of the sixth but the Cats sealed the game with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Ashlie Fauchier and Logan Zamora led the Cats with three hits apiece while Sarah Harvey chipped in two hits.
Junior Ashley Wailand earned the win in the circle. The Davenport, Iowa native allowed six runs, one earned, with two strikeouts as she pitched the complete game.
GAME TWO
The Cats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as White scored off a sacrifice fly to right field by Harvey. RSU added to the lead in the third, scoring three runs. Fauchier led off with a triple to left field and scored off a double by Amanda Edwards. Shelby Brogdon entered the game as a pinch hitter and singled to right field to plate Curtis.
Bacone's lone runs of the nightcap came in the fourth inning. However, the Cats earned both runs back in the bottom half of the inning. Ortiz rounded out the scoring with a solo homer over the left field fence in the sixth. The Monahans Texas native led the Hillcat offense with three hits.
Edwards earned the win in the circle as she pitched six innings while allowing two runs on nine hits with three strikeouts. Wailand closed out the seventh inning, allowing no hits and no runs with one walk.
Rogers State (2-0) will take the road on Wednesday as they travel to Oklahoma Wesleyan for a twin bill. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
