BETHANY, Okla. – Rogers State softball split Wednesday's doubleheader at Southern Nazarene as the Hillcats dropped game one, 5-4 in nine innings, before storming past the Crimson Storm, 18-11, in game two at Cypert Athletic Complex.
Game One
The Crimson Storm built a three run lead through the opening three innings of play before RSU posted three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Mikayla Waggnor reached on an error by the SNU shortstop and stole second to lead off the fifth. A bunt single to third base by
Katelyn Gamble put runners on the corners for the Hillcats before the Hillcat centerfielder stole second putting two runners in scoring position.
RSU was unable to score on a fly ball to right field but a fielding error by the Crimson Storm shortstop allowed
Morgen Blanchard to reach base and scored Waggnor. Blanchard would steal second in the next at-bat and score, with Gamble, on a single to center field by
Arika Araujo to even the score at 3-3.
SNU would add a run in the sixth inning as Katelyn Brown scored via an obstruction on a double by Jacey James to left field putting the Crimson Storm up 4-3.
The Hillcats evened the score, 4-4, in the seventh inning as Blanchard doubled to left-center and scored on an Araujo double down the left field line.
A double with one out in the ninth inning by Kriston Shumaker with two runners on base scored Kendal Stockstill and gave SNU the 5-4 extra innings victory.
Blanchard finished 2-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored while Araujo batted 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Megan Rosewell suffered the loss allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief work.
Edie Fairchild went four innings in the start allowing three runs on four hits.
SNU totaled 10 hits led by Mahina Sauer batting 3-for-3 with one RBI and drawing one walk. Katelyn Brown earned the victory pitching all nine innings for the Crimson Storm while allowing eight hits with four runs, one earned, and striking out 14 batters.
Game Two
RSU bats exploded in the nightcap totaling a program record 24 hits as the Hillcats set a school record with 18 runs in game two.
A leadoff double down the left field line by
Harli Wheeler was followed by
Kenzie Lloyd singling to third base. The duo moved over on a stolen base and scored on a double to left field by Blanchard. A single by Waggnor scored Blanchard and forced a pitching change by the Crimson Storm with just one out. A fielding error allowed Gamble to reach first and
Kayla Patterson and Araujo were plated on the play.
The Hillcats weren't finished as they batted around in the first inning with a double to left-center scoring Waggnor to build a 6-0 lead on six hits.
SNU responded in the home half of the inning plating five runs on three hits to trim the deficit to a single run.
RSU added a run in the second inning as
Ashley Williams doubled to left-center to plate Waggnor and push the Hillcat lead to 7-5.
Wheeler led off the third inning with a double to left field and scored on a fielding error by the SNU right fielder. A two-run home run by Araujo pushed the RSU lead to 10-5 before the Crimson Storm added two runs in the home half of the third inning as the Hillcats led 10-7 entering the fourth.
A throwing error by the Crimson Storm third baseman plated the Hillcats first of four runs in the fourth inning. Wheeler doubled scoring Gamble and Williams with no outs. A sacrifice fly by Blanchard to centerfield scored Wheeler and built the Hillcat lead to 14-7.
Kayla Patterson homered to right-center field to lead off the fifth inning. Waggnor followed with a double to left field and scored on a fielding error by the SNU pitcher. A single by
Kenzie Lloyd scored
Ashley Williams as RSU led 17-11.
SNU added four runs in the fifth inning on three hits before the Hillcats'
Ali Turner homered to give RSU the 18-11 lead in the sixth inning.
Three Hillcats totaled four hits each as
Harli Wheeler finished 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored.
Kenzie Lloyd batted 4-for-5 with one RBI, one run scored and drawing one walk while
Mikayla Waggnor finished 4-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored.
Rosewell (16-6) earned the victory as the junior pitcher allowed 11 runs, eight earned, on nine hits with two strikeouts and five walks.
Mahina Sauer (2-6) received the loss allowing six runs, three earned, on five hits with one strikeout and a walk in just one-third innings of work as the Crimson Storm starter.
RSU's 18 runs scored broke the previous school record of 17 set twice, first on Feb. 20, 2010 versus Missouri Valley College and the second time on March 11, 2011 versus Tabor College.
The Hillcats blew past the previous hits record of 19 versus Texas-Permian Basin on March 20, 2016 with 24 hits against Southern Nazarene (6-16) on Wednesday.
Rogers State (18-8) returns to action on Tuesday, March 21 at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. at 2 p.m.
