WICHITA, Kan. – After dropping game one on an extra-inning miscue, the Rogers State softball team came back to win game two to split a Heartland Conference doubleheader at Newman on Thursday at the Newman Softball Field.
GAME ONE The Jets scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning to down RSU, 4-3, in game one.
With two outs and a runner on second base, NU won it due to an error on the Hillcat outfield. The runner came around to score from second to win, 4-3.
RSU went up 1-0 in the first inning as the Hillcats plated a run due to NU's miscue by the infield.
The Jets gained a 2-1 advantage in the bottom half of the first on a two-RBI single to right field. NU's lead grew to 3-1 with an RBI groundout in the third inning.
The Hillcats tied the score at 3-3 with two runs in the fourth inning.
Arika Araujo started the inning with a double to right field. The runners moved to the corners after a
Jamie Kowalick single to right, and the strong at-bats continued with a single by
Taylor Sutterfield to bring home pitch runner
Randye Sharp. The score was tied on a single by
Ashleigh Stidman for the 3-3 score.
Morgen Blanchard went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Stidman finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Jessica Christian started in the circle going 7.2 innings with six hits and four runs (two earned) allowed. She struck out two Jet batters.
GAME TWO RSU pulled out to a 6-3 lead in game two, but needed a rally in the seventh inning to win 8-6 for the two-game split.
Taylor Santistevan drove in the game-winning runs in the seventh with a single to right field to plate Kowalick and
Ashley Williams for the 8-6 score.
The Hillcats scored three runs in the third inning to go in front, 3-0, early in the game. Blanchard doubled to the gap in left field to plate all three runs as Kaitlyn Gamble, Stidman and Sharpe scored for the 3-0 advantage.
NU got on the board in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single for a 3-1 score.
RSU added three runs in the fifth inning to extend the edge to 6-2. Araujo doubled to left to start the scoring as Stidman came home. Two more runs were plated on a
Stephanie Schivally single to center scoring Araujo and Blanchard.
The host Jets went on to tie the score at 6-6 with four runs in the fifth and sixth inning. After one run in the fifth, NU put up three runs in the sixth inning. A two-RBI double knotted the score at 6-6.
Morgan continued her strong day going 2-for-3 with three RBI on a double and a triple. Kowalick went 2-for-3 with a double, and Santistevan finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Christian picked up the win as she came in to pitch the final 1.2 innings.
Mayra Helguera and
Rachel Jones combined to pitch the first 5.1 innings.
The Hillcats (13-21, 3-11 Heartland Conference) end the three-game series at NU on Friday with one contest against the Jets at 12 p.m. at the Newman Softball Field. Live stats will be available.
