BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Rogers State softball team swept Southwest Baptist in a doubleheader on Wednesday at the SBU Softball Field. The Hillcats used a strong fourth inning to rally for a 4-3 win in game one, and
Jessica Christian held the Bearcats to three hits in the nightcap to get a 1-0 victory.
GAME ONE After falling behind 3-0, RSU rallied with four runs in the fourth inning to win 4-3 in the first game.
SBU went up 3-0 in the second inning as the Bearcats loaded the bases and got a run on a RBI groundout. Two consecutive fielder's choices plated runs for the 3-0 advantage after two innings.
Three straight singles loaded the bases on the way to a four-run fourth for the Hillcats to take the lead.
Taylor Santistevan started the two-out rally with a single through the left side.
Ashleigh Stidman singled to third and
Katelyn Gamble followed by singling to left loading the bases.
Jamie Kowalick brought home the first run with a single through the left side of the infield putting RSU on the scoreboard.
Morgen Blanchard gave the Hillcats the 4-3 advantage with a bases-clearing double to right field plating three.
Santistevan finished 2-for-3 with one run scored for RSU. Kowalick went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Mayra Helguera started in the circle going the first 3.2 innings allowing three runs on six hits. Christian entered in relief and shut down the Bearcats allowing two hits in 3.1 innings to pick up the win.
GAME TWO Christian pitched a gem in game two collecting her first-collegiate shutout allowing only three hits to pick up her second win of the twinbill. Kowalick drove in one run and that margin was enough in the 1-0 victory.
With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Kowalick struck again with a RBI single through the infield for a 1-0 score. Santistevan started the inning with a single to right and
Randye Sharp reached on an error. Gamble walked to load the bases before the Kowalick RBI single gave the Hillcats the eventual winning run.
Christian pitched her second complete game of the season going seven innings totaling three strikeouts. Kowalick, Blanchard, Santistevan and
Katlin Alexander each totaled one hit in the finale.
The Hillcats (8-12) continue Heartland Conference play this weekend at preseason favorite Lubbock Christian. The three-game series starts Friday (March 4) with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. in Lubbock, Texas.
