CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State softball team fell, 7-2, to Oklahoma Christian to start a three-game league series at the Diamond Sports Complex.
 
The Eagles used four runs in the second inning to pull away for the 7-2 victory.
 
With the bases loaded in the second, OC scored two runs on a single to right field. The lead increased to 3-0 with a single up the middle to score one more run. The Eagles added the final run of the inning on a fielder's choice for the 4-0 advantage.
 
In the fifth inning OC plated one run with a sac fly to right for a 5-0 score. A sixth-inning single to left put the Eagles up 6-0.
 
The Hillcats scored their first run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Taylor Santistevan singled to plate Kenzie Lloyd from second base. With the Cats still threatening with the bases loaded, the Eagles ended the opportunity, forcing RSU to pop out to end the inning.
 
In the seventh inning, the teams traded solo home runs to keep the margin six runs. OC started with a home run by Kayla Eichler to left field for a 7-1 score.
 
Kayla Patterson hit a bomb to center field, her eighth of the season, in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it 7-2.
 
Patterson went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Danelle Day also finished 2-for-3 at the plate, and Morgan Blanchard registered a 2-for-4 day.
 
Mayra Helguera started in the circle, going 1.1 innings. Edie Fairchild finished with 5.2 innings of relief. The two combined to allow seven runs and 10 hits with one strikeout.  
 
The three-game series concludes tomorrow (April 28) with a doubleheader at 5 p.m. at the Diamond Sports Complex. Follow the action on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live or on the radio on 91.3 FM.