JOPLIN, Mo. – The Rogers State softball team used strong pitching by Jessica Christian and Mayra Helguera to hold Missouri Southern to only one run in a doubleheader on Wednesday as the two teams split the series by the identical scores of 1-0. MSSU won game one, 1-0, with the Hillcats getting game two, 1-0, as Helguera retired 14 straight batters to end the game.
 
GAME ONE
 
Jessica Christian held the Lions to four hits and one run in game one, but picked up a tough loss as the Hillcats couldn't score a run in the 1-0 defeat. Christian went six innings with the one run on four hits in 89 pitches.
 
MSSU pitcher Ashley Lutz had a no hitter going into sixth inning until lead-off hitter Ashleigh Stidman had an infield single. Lutz went seven innings with five strikeouts and five walks in 130 pitches.
 
The Lions scored their only run of the doubleheader in the very first inning as a two-out single up the middle plated the game's only run for the 1-0 score.
 
GAME TWO
 
RSU scored a run in the seventh inning to win game two, 1-0, over MSSU and to get a doubleheader split.
 
Pinch hitter Ashley Williams hit an RBI single through the infield to bring home Randye Sharp from third for the 1-0 advantage in the final inning. The inning started with a walk from Taylor Santistevan, who was replaced by the pinch-running Sharp. Taylor Sutterfield placed a sacrifice bunt to put Sharp in scoring position, and Jamie Kowalick had a productive out moving Sharp to third on a ground out to second. Stephanie Schivally worked a walk to put runners at the corners before the Williams game-winning RBI single.
 
Mayra Helguera pitched a gem in the nightcap going seven innings and allowing only two hits. She retired the final 14 batters in order as the Lions got their last hit in the third inning. Helguera had one strikeout with zero walks, and she only needed 55 pitches to go the complete game.
 
The Hillcats (17-25) have a rare conference weekend off. After the break, RSU welcomes rival Northeastern State to the Diamond Sports Complex on Tuesday (April 12) for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Follow the action on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.