SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Rogers State softball team picked up a 6-3 upset over defending NCAA Division II National Champion Central Oklahoma closing day one of the Rattler Invitational hosted by St. Mary's after a 6-5 loss to open the day against Eastern New Mexico.

Cailin Simpson, Taran Threet, and Carley Conley each collected three hits on the day for the Hillcats while Yolanda Rios earned both decisions.

Game One

RSU got roughed up in the first inning against the Zias as starting pitcher Brooklyne Harbert was bounced after recording just one out with ENMU scoring five runs on three hits and two errors.

In the third, the Hillcats got runners on second and third via free passes but the next three batters went down in order ending the chance to cut into the deficit. RSU finally broke through in the fourth as Conley drew a lead-off walk and later scored on Threet's single, the first hit of the game for the Softball Cats.

RSU rallied back to tie the game 5-5 in the top of the sixth with the duo of Conley and Threet providing back-to-back hits to start the rally. Conley scored on Threet's double before Makenzie Kirk was hit by a pitch and Harbert walked to load the bases. Simpson promptly singled to left bringing home one. Jamie Kowalick and Rios added two-out RBIs as momentum seemed to be in the Hillcats' favor.

ENMU squashed that in the bottom half of the sixth drawing a lead-off walk that came around to score and be the difference maker in a 6-5 loss for RSU.

Rios took the loss for the Hillcats despite a great performance in relief scattering three hits and one run over 5.2 innings.

Game Two

Rogers State scored first against Central Oklahoma, who opened the season No. 1 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Preseason Poll, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first started by a single from Kowalick. The sophomore scored two batters later on an error that allowed Candace Monigold to reach base. Conley then delivered a double to left center scoring Monigold as the Hillcats built a 2-0 lead.

The Bronchos, a team still receiving votes in the latest NFCA Top 25 poll, got one back off Rios in the second taking advantage of another lead-off walk.

After UCO tied the score 2-2 in the third, RSU had its first six batters in the bottom of the third reach base on five hits. The biggest came off the bat of Rios as the senior delivered a two-run single that gave her a cushion to work with in the circle as the Hillcats put up four runs in the frame for a 6-2 advantage.

Rios retired the first two batters in the fourth before allowing three-straight singles but escaped the jam by getting a ground ball out keeping the Bronchos off the scoreboard. UCO threatened again in the sixth getting one run back but again Rios stranded three base runners.

The Hillcats secured the big-time win for the program over the defending national champion Bronchos recording a season-high nine hits. Kowalick, Simpson, and Conley all registered 2-for-4 games at the plate and Rios got the victory for RSU, who has won both games in which it scored first this season.