CLAREMORE, Okla.- Behind senior Yolanda Rios', one-hitter in the opening game, the Rogers State softball team split a doubleheader with Northeastern State on Tuesday night at the Diamond Sports Complex.
The Hillcats stretched their winning streak to six games in the opener with an 8-2 victory. In the finale, RSU's comeback bid fell short in the bottom of the seventh as the Cats fell, 5-4.
GAME ONE
The Hillcats pounded out 10 hits while Rios fanned 10 batters, allowing just one hit en route to the 8-2 victory in the opening game.
RSU broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. Jackie Flores started the inning with a single through the right side of the infield and advanced to second on the throw. Flores moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jamie Kowalick and scored on a Cailin Simpson sacrifice fly. Candace Monigold followed with a single up the middle and advance to second on a wild pitch. Taran Threet drew a full-count walk and Carley Conley ripped a two-out double to right-center scoring both runs.
The Riverhawks lone hit of the game was a two-out, two-run blast over the center field fence in the sixth by Saharra Henson that cut the RSU lead to 3-2.
The Hillcats responded in the bottom of the frame as Monigold delivered with the bases loaded, belting a two-run single up the middle. Threet followed with an RBI-single to right center. With two outs, Rios drew a full-count walk loading the bases and Kassie Brugmann tallied a pinch-hit, RBI single before Makenzie Kirk rounded out the scoring with an RBI single.
Rios shut down the Riverhawks in the top of the seventh, facing the minimum to secure the win. The right-handed pitcher allowed two unearned runs on one hit for the complete-game victory. It was the fourth time this season the Fullerton, Calif., native has fanned 10 or more batters in a game.
Monigold and Flores each tallied two hits apiece to lead the team offensively.
GAME TWO
In the nightcap, the Riverhawks used a five-run third inning propelling them to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory.
In the second frame, Conley led off with a single and moved to third after a pair of passed balls. She later scored on an error and Katie Ellington kept the inning alive with a single. Kowalick drove in Kirk with a double ripped into right field.
The RSU lead was short-lived as NSU strung together six hits to plate five runs, including a two-run home run by Megan Robison, in the top of the third.
In the final five innings RSU left six base runners stranded. In the bottom of the seventh, Flores belted an RBI-double down the left field line to cut the deficit to 5-4. With runners on second and third with two outs, Kirk's heroic bid fell just short as the ball was caught at the wall.
Flores led the Cats in game two, going 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Brooklyne Harbert suffered the loss in the circle, allowing four runs on five hits with one strikeout. Rios finished out the game, tossing the final 4.2 innings, allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts.
Kayce Wooldridge earned the complete-game victory for NSU, giving up four runs, two earned, on nine hits with two strikeouts.
Rogers State (10-21) returns to the road Friday for a three game series against Heartland Conference opponent Oklahoma Christian. The doubleheader on Friday is set for 5 p.m.
