ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Rogers State softball team started the season today with two tough losses at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational in Arkadelphia, Ark. RSU started with a close 3-2 loss to Ouachita Baptist, and ended the day with a 9-1 defeat to Missouri Western. The Cats play two more games tomorrow.
Ouachita Baptist 3, Rogers State 2
The Hillcats started the season with a close 3-2 loss to host Ouachita Baptist in the morning. The Tigers pulled out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and held on for the victory.
After OBU put two on, the Tigers hit a three-run homer to right to go in front by the 3-0 score.
Kayla Patterson, a senior from Tulsa, started her RSU career with a 2-for-2 day with two RBI. In the second inning, she singled to right to bring home
Arika Araujo to make it 3-1. Araujo reached base on a lead-off single to left field. The navy and red totaled three hits in the second inning as
Taylor Santistevan singled to move Patterson to third base. The Cats, however, couldn't bring her in as the next two batters struck out and grounded out, respectively.
Patterson knocked a solo home run to right field in the sixth inning to pull the Cats to within one at 3-2.
Megan Rosewell made her first start in the circle in an RSU uniform. She went 6.0 innings and allowed only two hits with two earned runs, all on the home run. After the homer, Roswell recorded 11-straight outs before a walk in the fifth inning.
Missouri Western 9, Rogers State 1 (5 innings)
In game two of the day, Missouri Western won, 9-1, in five innings. The Griffons totaled runs in each of the first three innings.
MWSU got the scoring going with a single up the middle for a 1-0 lead after one inning. The Griffons added two runs in the second inning on an infield single and a run scoring on a double play. Missouri Western held a 3-0 advantage with two innings complete.
A three-run home run by the Griffons doubled the margin to 6-0 in the third inning.
The Cats scored a run in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk. After a lead-off single from Santistevan in the fifth,
Ali Turner and
Danelle Day showed patience at the play to work back-to-back walks, loading the bases.
De'Leigh Emarthle got an RBI with a walk of her own to score a run for RSU.
In the fifth inning, MWSU added three runs on a sac fly and a double to end the game at 9-1 due to the run rule.
Barbara Billingsley of Missouri Western had a no hitter going until the Santistevan hit in the fifth inning. She allowed only one run with one earned run and six strikeouts.
Edie Fairchild started in the circle in her first game at RSU. The freshman from Keller, Texas went 4.2 innings and allowed nine hits with one strikeout.
The Hillcats (0-2) continue their weekend with two games tomorrow (Feb. 4). The day starts with Lincoln at 11 a.m. and continues with Henderson State at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available.
