BETHANY, Okla. - The Rogers State softball team dropped a pair of games to No. 16 Southern Nazarene on Tuesday afternoon in Bethany, Okla.
The Storm posted runs in each of the first three innings en route to a 10-3 victory in the opener. SNU held off a late rally by the Hillcats in the nightcap to claim the 3-2 victory.
GAME ONE
The Crimson Storm belted 15 hits as they took the opening game, 10-3.
Katie Hale put SNU on top in the first inning with a two run homer over the centerfield fence.
After retiring the side in the top of the second SNU tacked on four runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a three-run blast by Hale.
Kelli Billups belted a solo shot in the third to give SNU a 7-0 advantage.
Both teams were scoreless in the fourth and RSU post a trio of runs on four hits to cut the deficit to 7-3. A single by Katie Bointy plated Shelby Brogdon who led off the inning with a walk. Dina Ortiz singled and scored on a ground out by Ashlie Fauchier. Ashlee Dillman hit a RBI single to send Linsey Curtis across home plate.
SNU earned all three runs back as the scored one run in the fifth and a pair of runs in the sixth.
Ashley Wailand (13-8) suffered the loss in the circle for the Hillcats. The junior hurler tossed five and two third innings and allowed 10 runs on 15 hits. Jordan Simmons (15-3) registered the win for SNU as she pitched the complete game and allowed three runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Hillcats come-back effort fell short in the nightcap as SNU scored the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the seventh with two outs, Ortiz blast a two-run homer to left-center field to knot the score.
The rally fell shot as SNU earned the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a throwing error by second baseman Logan Zamora.
The Crimson Storm took a 1-0 lead in the fourth with a RBI single by Billups. Aubrey Jones hit a solo shot in the sixth to push SNU's lead to 2-0.
Katie Bointy (0-1) recorded the loss in the circle for RSU. The senior tossed the complete game and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts. Kaci Crawford (17-3) earned the win for the Crimson Storm. She went the distance and allowed two runs on three hits while fanning eight.
Rogers State (30-20, 7-11) will return to the friendly confines of the Hillcat Complex on Saturday as they host Mid-America Christian in a twin bill. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.
