CLAREMORE, Okla.- The Rogers State softball team registered a doubleheader split against Heartland Conference foe University of Texas-Permian Basin at the Diamond Sports Complex on Thursday night.
The Falcons edged the Hillcats in the opening game 1-0 before RSU bounced back, compiling 10 hits en route to a 3-0 victory in the nightcap.
GAME ONE
Both teams left a runner stranded on second in the first frame. However, the Falcons dented the scoreboard in the second to take a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI double ripped into the right-center field gap by Aurora Burk. RSU had a play at the plate but Miley McKee slid in just under the tag by catcher Jamie Kowalick.
The Hillcats threatened in the fifth but left the tying run stranded on third. Yolanda Rios led off the inning with a double belted in the right-center gap and moved to third on a ground out by Makenzie Kirk but with two outs RSU couldn't drive in the tying run.
Carley Conley kept the Hillcats' hopes alive in the seventh with a one-out single. With two outs, Jackie Flores came up short as the Falcon's centerfielder caught the ball at the wall to secure the win for UTPB.
Rios suffered the loss in the circle for RSU, allowing one run on five hits while fanning eight. Desiree Valero registered the complete-game win for the Falcons, allowing five hits with five strikeouts.
Cailin Simpson was the lone Hillcats with two hits in the contest.
GAME TWO
The Hillcats broke loose from a scoreless tie in the third and cruised to the win behind a solid performance in the circle from the RSU pitching staff.
Brooklyne Harbert tallied 5.1 shutout innings with two strikeouts, allowing just four hits, to record the win. Rios closed out the final 1.2 innings, facing the minimum to seal the win and register her second save of the season.
In the third, Taran Threet singled up the middle to put runners on second and third. Both Monigold and Threet moved into scoring position with a double steal. Carley Conley followed with a RBI single to center field to put the Cats on the scoreboard.
The Hillcats loaded the bases in the fourth and increased the lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly by Kowalick. RSU capped the scoring in the sixth with a RBI double by Kirk to drive in Flores who led off the inning with a single to left field.
Threet and Kirk paced the offense with two hits apiece.
Holly Herrington suffered the loss for the Falcons, allowing three runs, two earned, on 10 hits with one strikeout.
Rogers State (13-30, 6-14) returns to action on Friday for the final game of the three-game series against UTPB at noon. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
