WICHITA, Kan. - The Rogers State softball team posted a 4-1 record over the weekend at the Friends University Tournament in Wichita, Kan.
The Hillcats split on Saturday, handing Midland University a 9-0 defeat before falling to Ottawa University 6-4. The Cats bounced back on Sunday as they rounded out the tournament with three straight wins.
GAME ONE (Midland University)
The Hillcats scored runs in each of the first four innings en route to a 9-0 run-rule victory. Kaitlin McCool led off the first inning and reached base on an error. She scored on a fielder's choice by Katrina Loy to give RSU a 1-0 lead. The Cats increased their lead in the second frame with a two-out RBI double to deep left field by Kirsten Leppla.
RSU doubled its lead in the third with a single by Niki Keck and a sacrifice fly by Megan Williams. Five runs in the fifth led to the rune-rule victory. With two outs the Loy hit an RBI double off the wall in left center field to send Ashlie Fauchier home. Keck followed with an RBI single and Threet doubled to deep center field to plate two runs. Justine Kodesh rounded out the scoring plating two runs with a double through the right side of the infield.
Laura Fleck tallied the win in the circle as she tossed four innings and allowed just three hits with one strikeout.
GAME TWO (Ottawa University)
The Hillcats only hiccup of the weekend came on Saturday evening as Ottawa University (Kan.) registered a 6-4 victory over the Cats.
The Braves dented the scoreboard first in the top of the third with three runs on four hits and one RSU error. The Hillcats rallied in the bottom of the fourth and took a 4-3 advantage with four runs on four hits with on OU error. McCool led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. Fauchier singled to put runners on first and third for Loy who hit a three run homer. Curtis followed with a solo shot to give the Hillcats the lead.
The Braves battled back in the top of the fifth with three runs to secure the win. Laura Fleck suffer her first loss of the season on the mound, tossing 4.1 innings and six runs, five earned, on 10 hits with four strikeouts.
Morgan Shramek earned the win as she hurled 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits.
GAME THREE (Graceland University)
The Hilllcats opened play on Saturday with an 11-0 thumbing of Graceland (Iowa) in five innings.
The Hillcat offense sparked early as they plated five runs in the top of the first. McCool got things started with a leadoff double to left-center field. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Fauchier and scored on an error by the shortstop. Curtis doubled off the wall in left field to send Shona Guerrero home. Threet rounded out the scoring with a first-pitch three run blast over the center field fence.
After a scoreless second, Guerrero led off the third with a double to deep right field. She scored on a two out double by Threet. Kirstin Leppla singled to shallow center field to bring Threet home and a single by Megan Williams allowed Leppla to score.
RSU made it a 9-0 game with a sacrifice fly by Loy allowing Fauchier to score after leading off the inning with a single and a stolen base.
Pinch hitters Justine Kodesh and Tory Fitch rounded out the scoring for the Cats in the fifth with back-to-back solo shots over the center field fence.
Ashley Wailand garnered the win in the circle for the Hillcats as she tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Game Four (Mount Mercy University)
The Hillcat tallied a 10-2 victory in six innings against Mount Mercy (Iowa).
Loy hit an RBI single to left to give the Hillcats a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Mustangs erased the RSU lead with a run in the bottom of the inning to knot the score.
The Hillcats regained the lead in the second with four runs on four hits and the help of an error by the Mustangs. Leppla got things started with a RBI single to right-center field. McCool sent Leppla home with a single up the middle. Fauchier followed with an RBI single up the middle and eventually scored on a pass ball by the catcher.
Fauchier hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and Linsey Curtis hit a two-run home run in the fifth to increase the Hillcat lead 8-1.
Rosie Jones belted a home run over the right field fence in the bottom of the fifth but the Hillcats ended the game early with two runs in the top of the sixth while Curtis closed out the bottom of the sixth in the circle, facing the minimum.
Laura Fleck earned the win, tossing five innings and allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
GAME FIVE (Bethel College)
The Hillcats ended the Friends Tournament with a 7-3 win over Bethel College. The Threshers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second but the Hillcats answered in the bottom half of the inning with five runs to take the lead.
The Hillcats increased their lead in the fifth with a RBI double by Threet and an RBI single by Keck.
The Threshers managed one unearned run in the top of the sixth but that was all they would manage as the Hillcats registered the win.
Feck registered the win in the circle for the Cats as she enter the game as a reliever and tossed 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
