CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team split a doubleheader against Missouri Southern State on Monday night at the Diamond Sports Complex.
In the opener, the Lions took an early 1-0 lead but the Hillcats battled back, pounding out 10 hits en route to a, 5-1, comeback win. The nightcap was a slugfest with the two teams combining for 26 hits. The Lions came out on top using six home runs to propel them to a 12-9 victory and the twin bill split.
GAME ONE The Lions jumped out to an early one-run lead in the top of the first with a one-out RBI double ripped into right field by Myranda Stewart to drive in Alana Heater who opened the inning with a single.
RSU threatened in the bottom of the frame but left a pair of runners stranded to end the frame. The Hillcats continued to battle and took the lead in the third with a two-run home run belted over the centerfield fence by
Carley Conley.
After facing the minimum in the top of the frame, the Hillcats added an insurance run in the fifth.
Cailin Simpson kept the inning alive with a two-out double in the right-center field gap and scored on a Conley single to left field.
In the top of the sixth, RSU maneuvered its way out of a jam with an impressive double play. The Lions had runners on first and second with one out. Dru Coleman hit the ball to shallow centerfield but RSU outfielder
Ashleigh Stidman robbed her of a base hit with a diving catch and ended the frame, throwing the ball to second base for the double play to get the Hillcats out of the inning unscathed.
RSU carried the momentum into the bottom of the frame, posting a pair of insurance runs with a RBI single to center by
Bailee Kaderka and a two-out error by the Lions allowed a run to score.
Kaderka (7-15) faced the minimum in the circle in the top of the seventh to seal the complete-game win. The junior hurler allowed one run on five hits while fanning four.
Ashley Lutz (6-15) was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on 10 hits with three strikeouts.
Conley led the offense going 3-for-3 with three RBI in the victory.
GAME TWO The Lions took a 4-0 advantage in the top of the first in the nightcap.
The Hillcats battled back in the bottom of the frame to take the lead, driving in seven runs. Simpson and Conley drew consecutive one-out walks to start the inning. The Hillcats dented the scoreboard with a
Katlin Alexander RBI single to left field.
Whitney Hamilton drew a walk to load the bases and
Makenzie Kirk was hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Stidman and
Randye Sharp kept the inning alive with back-to-back a two-out, two RBI singles. Jamie rounded out the scoring in the inning with a RBI single through the middle of the infield.
The lead was short-lived as MSSU answered with a four-run second highlighted by home runs from Kathryn Goins and Sarah Williams.
RSU evened the score in the bottom of the third with a two-out RBI single by
Jamie Kowalick that drove in Sharp who single to right field and stole second base earlier in the inning.
MSSU regained the lead in the top of the fourth with a Myranda Stewart home run but the Hillcats knotted the score in the bottom of the inning with a RBI single by Hamilton. The Hillcats had opportunities to take the lead in the frame but ended the inning with the bases loaded.
The Lions regained the lead in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs and tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.
RSU stranded 10 base runners in the contest, including two runners in the bottom of the seventh.
Jessica Christian (1-4) was tagged with the loss, tossing five innings with four strikeouts. She allowed 11 runs, 10 earned, on 11 hits with two walks.
Shelby Mitchell (4-3) earned the win, throwing 6.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs on 11 hits.
Rogers State (13-26) returns to action on Tuesday as the Hillcats travel to Pittsburg State for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.
