CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team battled back to win the final tilt in a four-game series against Heartland Conference leader Texas A&M International falling 5-1 before a 7-6 win Saturday afternoon at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
GAME ONE
TAMIU jumped out to a 5-0 lead and cruised to the conference victory scoring in three of the first four innings. The Dustdevils opened the game with a single and a walk before tallying the first run on a wild pitch in the top of the first.
 
Looking to answer right back, RSU's Cailin Simpson singled with one out and Carley Conley followed by drawing a walk but TAMIU retired the next two batters escaping the first-inning jam.
 
The top of the third began the same as the first for the Dustdevils, getting a single and a walk, but scored twice in the frame this time, and added two more in the fourth on a three-hit inning stretching the advantage to 5-0.
 
The Hillcats broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth utilizing a Dustdevil error to get their first run. Malori Moss reached on a two-base miscue and later crossed home plate on a single off the bat of Bailey Spencer, but the rally ended there, falling 5-1.
 
Jamie Kowalick led RSU with two hits and starting pitcher Rachel Jones (2-2) suffered the loss throwing her first complete game of the season allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out five.
 
Delainy Thompson (5-6) picked up the complete-game victory for TAMIU scattering six hits, one unearned run, and fanned six.
 
GAME TWO
RSU jumped to an early lead before the Dustdevils responded with a five-run fourth. The Hillcats battled right back coming away with a 7-6 win to close the series posting 14 singles in the finale.
 
A two-run bottom of the first gave RSU its first lead of the weekend. Kowalick got the inning started with a single and scored on Katlin Alexander's sacrifice fly. Whitney Hamilton added a RBI single brining Simpson around from second for the 2-0 advantage.
 
TAMIU threatened in the second loading the bases, but Hillcat starter Jessica Christian was able to escape unscathed allowing the offense to double the lead in the bottom of the third. Kowalick and Simpson delivered back-to-back singles opening the frame and moved into scoring position on Conley's sacrifice bunt. Alexander and Hamilton came through with RBI singles putting the Cats in front, 4-0.
 
The Dustdevils answered back putting up five runs in the fourth taking the lead behind just three hits in the inning. Brandi Giles lofted a three-run home run to left and Chelsea Capello added a two-run blast for TAMIU's 5-4 advantage.
 
The Hillcats left two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth but regained their lead posting three runs in the fifth. Maggie McBrayer drew a pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk with one out to knot the game, 5-5, scoring pinch runner Randye Sharp. Stephanie Schivally entered the game providing the go-ahead RBI single into the gap in right center and Kowalick added a RBI groundout for the 7-5 margin.
 
A solo home run by TAMIU's Brittany Mussett cut the deficit to one for the Dustdevils in the top of the sixth. Bailee Kaderka came in and shut the door on any chance of a comeback recording her first career save allowing one hit over the final 1.1 innings. Jones (2-3) got the win in relief throwing two innings. Giles (0-3) was tagged with the loss for TAMIU allowing six runs on 12 hits in 4.1 innings of work.
 
Kowalick and Hamilton went 3-for-4 in the contest while Simpson, Alexander, and Moss each had multi-hit games for the navy and red.
 
RSU (8-15, 4-7 HC) is back in action Tuesday hosting Central Baptist as it closes the longest homestand in program history. Game one of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. and can be viewed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.