GRUVER, Texas – The Rogers State softball team scored early in both games picking up a doubleheader sweep at Oklahoma Panhandle State winning 4-2 and 8-2 in Heartland Conference action Saturday.
 
The Hillcats got pitching victories from Bailee Kaderka in both games at Gruver High School to even their conference record at 2-2 snapping a three-game losing skid.
 
GAME ONE
Jamie Kowalick had three of RSU's seven hits going 3-for-4 in the opening game as the Hillcats struck for three first-inning runs jumping ahead 3-0. The junior started the game with a lead-off triple and scored when Cailin Simpson delivered a RBI single.
 
The Aggies closed the gap to one run, 3-2, with one swing in the bottom of the third on Anyssa Barbosa's two-run home run.
 
Kowalick added her second run of the game in the seventh following a double to start to the frame. Simpson moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt and Carley Conley provided the insurance RBI on a groundout to second for a 4-2 advantage.
 
Kaderka got the win in the circle for RSU throwing 4.1 innings allowing two runs on five hits while Aubrey Voboril recorded her first save of the season giving up two hits and no runs over 2.2 innings of relief work.
 
GAME TWO
The Hillcats used the long ball launching three home runs closing out the twin bill behind an 8-2 win. Katlin Alexander blasted her first two round trippers of the year driving home four runs in the ballgame and Makenzie Kirk also hit her first home run.
 
RSU starter Rachel Jones ran into trouble in the first but stranded two OPSU runners as the Aggies left 10 on base in the game-two loss.
 
The Hillcats scored two runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings as Kirk tallied the first run of the game scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the third. Conley added an RBI single to center bringing Kowalick home for a 2-0 lead. After OPSU evened the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the third, the Hillcats regained their lead in the fourth on Kirk's two-run blast scoring Bailey Spencer and tacked on two more in the fifth on Alexander's home run.
 
Alexander closed the scoring with her second long ball of the game scoring Conley in the seventh for the 8-2 victory.
 
Kaderka picked up the win in game two scattering three hits over 4.2 innings in relief of Jones moving to 3-3 on the season.
 
Rogers State (3-7 overall, 2-2 HC) closes the weekend series with the Aggies Sunday with another doubleheader. The first game at noon will count in the Heartland Conference standings while game two will be played as a non-conference tilt.