CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team proved it can be a game of inches in a doubleheader split with Oklahoma Christian Thursday afternoon winning game one, 7-4, before a 14-9 loss in game two at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
Seniors Whitney Hamilton and Cailin Simpson combined to provide eight RBI in the two games as Hamilton went 4-for-5 with three walks on the day while Simpson had the game-winning home run and started three double plays in the opener.
 
GAME ONE
Simpson provided the heroics for the Hillcats breaking a 4-4 tie with a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth for a 7-4 win to open the twin bill.
 
Makenzie Kirk started the sixth with a single just inside the right field line and Jamie Kowalick walked leading to Simpson's third home run of the season facing one of the top pitchers in the Heartland Conference, OC's Shea Coats.
 
In the first inning, the Lady Eagles got a one-out single from Courtney Starr that was roughly a foot from clearing the fence in left. RSU starter Bailee Kaderka still faced the minimum in the first as Simpson and Carley Conley turned a double play on the league-leading hitter Kendra Pierce to end the inning.
 
The Hillcats took advantage of the great play defensively turning it into a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the frame as Whitney Hamilton delivered a two-run single into the gap in right center. Jamie Kowalick drew a walk to open the inning and moved to third on Katlin Alexander's two-out double before both crossed home plate on Hamilton's drive.
 
Four singles and a walk led to OC scoring three runs in the second to take a 3-2 lead until the Hillcat middle infielders turned the second double play of the game leaving the bases loaded.
 
RSU wasted no time evening the score, 3-3, capitalizing on Simpson's lead-off walk. The senior came around to score on another two-out hit off the bat of Hamilton, this time a single into left. Sheridan Bond doubled opening the top of the fourth as the Lady Eagles regained a one-run advantage plating the run on a single from Jordan Chism.
 
Hamilton came through with another clutch hit for the Hillcats in the fifth driving the tying run home on a single scoring Conley from second leading to the blast from Simpson that sealed the victory for RSU, 7-4.
 
Rachel Jones (4-3) picked up the win in relief for the Hillcats throwing the final 3.2 innings allowing just one hit. Coats (7-7) was tagged with the most runs she has allowed this season, seven, scattering six hits over the complete game.
 
GAME TWO
After the Lady Eagles took an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the first, RSU responded by scoring the next four runs. A three-run third inning gave the Hillcats a 4-2 lead as Hamilton hit an RBI single while Kirk was hit by pitch with the bases loaded for an RBI. Alexander scampered across the plate on a wild pitch pushing the advantage to two runs.
 
OC broke the game open in the fourth sending 15 batters to the plate scoring nine runs. The Lady Eagles caught a fortunate break when a bases-loaded, two-out grounder bounced off the bag at third preventing RSU from getting out of the inning with the lead as they went on to score eight runs after the play against three different pitchers.
 
The Hillcats got three runs back in the bottom of the fifth getting the potential tying run on deck with the bases loaded in back-to-back innings. Ashleigh Stidman, Randye Sharp, and Kowalick drove in runs for RSU and Conley added a two-run blast, her third home run of the season, in the seventh as the Hillcats dropped game two, 14-9.
 
Kaderka (4-11) took the loss for RSU allowing seven runs in 0.1 innings while Haley Squier (3-1) earned the win in relief for OC despite giving up five earned runs.
 
Rogers State (9-19, 5-11 HC) closes the league series Friday with a noon start time at the Diamond Sports Complex. Catch the action live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.