CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team split a doubleheader with Newman (Kan.) on Sunday afternoon at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
The Jets took the series victory with a 3-1 win in the opener, scoring the game-winning run in the top of the seventh. The nightcap drew fans to the edge of their seats as the Hillcats walked off with the 6-5 victory to avoid the series sweep.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Jets struck in the first inning with a two-out RBI single hit to left field by Kaitlyn Buck. RSU pitcher Rachel Jones left runners stranded on first and second with a strikeout to end the inning and get out of the jam.
 
Newman looked to strike again in the fifth but the Hillcat defense stood strong behind Jones, retiring Jets hitters on consecutive groundouts, leaving the leadoff hitter Kelsey Jones on third.
 
After stranding two Jets in the top of the inning, Mallory Moss put the Hillcats on the scoreboard and evened the score in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot belted over the centerfield fence for her second long ball of the season.
 
The Jets quickly regained the lead in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs off RBI singles from Courtney Sartin and Katie Ingles.
 
The Hillcats couldn't rally in the end of the inning as three consecutive batters were retired to end the contest. RSU left five runners stranded in the game.
 
The battle of the Jones' ended in a stalemate as both starting pitchers, Rachel Jones of RSU and Kelsey Jones from Newman, tallied no decisions in the contest. Ingles (3-7) earned the win in the circle for the Jets, tossing the final three scoreless innings allowing no hits with three strikeouts. Bailee Kaderka (4-6) was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs on three hits.
 
GAME TWO
The Hillcats used seventh-inning dramatics staging a come-from-behind victory, 7-6.
 
Trailing by two runs, the Hillcats tallied a trio of runs with two outs to claim the win and avoid the series sweep. With two outs and a runner on first, Newman pitcher Katie Ingles hit consecutive runners with pitches to load the bases. Stephanie Schivally drew a walk to bring a runner across home plate and put the tying run on third. Whitney Hamilton entered the game as a pinch hitter and smashed a single through the left side of the infield to drive in a pair of runs and secure the victory.
 
A four-run first by the Jets left the Hillcats playing catchup to start the finale. RSU cut the deficit in the bottom of the frame with a RBI single down the right field line by Katlin Alexander that drove in Cailin Simpson, who hit a one-out single up the middle earlier in the inning.
 
Alexander struck again the third with a two-out, two-run home run ripped over the centerfield fence as her team-leading third home run of the year. The Hillcats threatened in the third but stranded runners on second and third to end the inning.
 
The Jets added to their lead in the top of the fifth with some help of a RSU error that pushed their advantage to 5-3.
 
Bailey Spencer belted a one-out double to left field to get the offense started in the bottom of the sixth. The Hillcats couldn't manufacture a run in the inning, leaving pinch runner Ashleigh Stidman stranded on third base.
 
Rachel Jones closed out the final 2.2 innings for RSU and earned the win in the circle, allowing one hit with four strikeouts.
 
Ingles suffer the loss for Newman, tossing four innings of relief, allowing three runs on two hits.
 
Alexander and Simpson led the offense with two hits apiece.
 
Rogers State (6-11, 4-4 HC) returns to action at the Diamond Sports Complex on Tuesday as the Hillcats host Pittsburg State in a doubleheader with first pitch at 3 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.