CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team scored 10 runs in two games, but allowed No. 10 St. Mary's to plate 31 as the Rattlers sweep the conference doubleheader today at the Diamond Sports Complex. StMU took the first game, 21-8, and then got the sweep with a 10-2 win in the nightcap.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Rattlers used a nine-run sixth inning to score 21 runs in the first game, an affair that took more than three and a half hours. With RSU down only 12-8, StMU plated nine runs to end the contest after six innings due to the run rule.
 
StMU pulled out to an early 6-0 lead in the first inning. A single scored the first run and another run scored on a walk with the bases loaded. The advantage doubled to 4-0 after an error in centerfield allowed two more runs to come home. Another run scored on a wild pitch, and a sac fly put the Rattlers up 6-0 after the top of the inning.
 
The Hillcats showed their offense in the first inning as well with two runs. The inning started with back-to-back singles from Katelyn Gamble and Jamie Kowalick. After a wild pitch put both players in scoring position, Katlin Alexander singled to left field to score Gamble and Kowalick for a 6-2 score. Arika Araujo singled to right to keep the momentum going, but consecutive line outs ended the inning. RSU matched StMU with four hits in the first inning.
 
Both teams plated one run in the third inning. A single to center scored one run for the Rattlers. Alexander continued to have a hot bat with a sac fly to bring in Morgen Blanchard for a 7-3 score after three innings.
 
Four runs in the fourth inning upped the Rattler advantage to 11-3. The scoring started with a two-run homer by Sydney Wellmann, who was the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week on Monday. A sac fly and fielder's choice scored the other two StMU runs.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Hillcats scored three runs. Ashleigh Stidman singled to start the inning, and she scored after three straight walks. Araujo singled to the gap in right to score Kowalick and Gamble to pull the Hillcats to within five runs at 11-6.
 
After one run by the Rattlers in the top of the fifth, Stidman hit her first career home run, a solo shot to left field for a 12-7 score. Araujo brought in another run to make it 12-8 after five innings.     
 
The Rattlers put RSU away with the nine runs in the sixth inning, using three home runs in the inning.
 
Stidman went 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Araujo finished 3-for-4 with three RBI. Alexander totaled three RBI. As a team, the Hillcats totaled 14 hits.
 
GAME TWO
 
Game two started much slower for both teams as the score was 2-2 after four innings. The Rattlers scored eight runs in the final two innings to slide to a 10-2 win.
 
StMU again jumped on the Hillcats in the first inning. Wellmann hit her second homer of the day to make it 2-0 early in the contest.
 
The Hillcats knotted the score at 2-2 with runs in each of the second and third innings. Taylor Sutterfield singled through the infield to plate Alexander in the second inning to bring RSU to within one at 2-1. In the third inning, Blanchard singled to score Gamble for the 2-2 tie.
 
Again a huge inning for the Rattlers allowed them to pull away for the win. A two-RBI single made it 4-2. Wellmann continued to show why she was the league hitter of the week with her third home run of the day, this time a three-run homer for a 7-2 lead. Another home run upped the edge to 8-2 after fifth innings. With two runs in the sixth, the Rattlers got the victory, 10-2, due to the run rule.
 
Sutterfield went 2-for-2 in the game with one RBI.
 
The three-game series concludes tomorrow (March 13) at 11 a.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. Coverage is available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.