TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-The Rogers State softball team tallied two heartbreaking losses in extra innings on Tuesday afternoon against Northeastern State at Riverhawks Park.
RSU gave up the tying run in the bottom of the seventh and despite registering one run in the top of the eighth NSU battled back to score two runs in the bottom of the frame for the 7-6 win. In the nightcap, the Hillcats and the RiverHawks each tallied a run in the third inning and were unable to decide a winner in seven innings, sending the game into extras. RSU tallied a pair of runs in the eighth but NSU answered with the runs to earn the 4-3 win.
GAME ONE
The Hillcats cranked out 11 hits while leaving 10 runners stranded and committing three errors in the 7-6 extra-inning loss.
The RiverHawks registered an early lead, denting the scoreboard in the first frame. NSU started the inning with consecutive singles and both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Madison Boyd hit a fielder's choice RBI to the shortstop and the second runner came around on a Hillcat throwing error.
Alyssa Aguilar hit a RBI single in the third to push the NSU lead to 3-0 but the Hillcats erased the lead in the top of the fourth frame. Cailin Simpson, Taran Threet and Carley Conley loaded the bases with one out on a trio of singles. Yolanda Rios drew a walk to drive in a run. With two outs, Kelby Fritz belted a two-run single in the right-center field gap to knot the score.
NSU quickly took the lead in the bottom of the fourth frame with a RBI single by Krysti Cearley. RSU registered its first advantage of the contest in the sixth, capitalizing on two NSU errors. Rios reached on catcher's interference and Makenzie Kirk followed, reaching on a throwing error. Kelby Fritz tallied an RBI ground out and Jamie Kowalick knocked a RBI single up the middle to give RSU the one- run lead.
The Hillcats committed a costly error in the seventh that led to the tying run, sending the game into extra innings. Despite registering the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth, the RiverHawks tallied the win in the bottom of the frame, scoring on an error and walking in the game-winning run.
Rios was tagged with the loss allowing seven runs, two earned, on eight hits in 7.1 innings pitched. Kayce Wooldridge earned the win, tossing the final 3.2 innings, allowing three unearned runs on three hits.
Simpson led RSU at the plate, going 3-for-5 in the game.
GAME TWO
The Hillcats took the lead in the third with a first-pitch RBI single to right-center field by Threet. The lead was short-lived as the RiverHawks answered in the bottom of the inning with a RBI single by Madison Reed.
Despite three errors in the game, RSU made some great defensive plays in the game. In the fourth, Katie Ellington threw out Allyson Pogue trying to stretch a single into a double and in the sixth RSU retired the side thanks to Kowalick and Conley connecting from home plate to second base to throw out Pogue after walking.
Neither team was able to register the go-ahead run, pushing the game into extra innings. RSU pushed two runs across home plate in the eighth but the RiverHawks answered with a trio of runs in the bottom of the inning to claim the win.
Brooklyne Harbert took the loss in the circle for RSU, allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits with four strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work.
Rogers State (4-15) returns to action on Friday as the Hillcats host St. Mary's in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. The games will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
