ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Rogers State Softball team split its doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational, falling to No. 5 University of Texas at Tyler 3-1, before closing the opening weekend with an 8-4 win over Ouachita Baptist.
The Hillcats found themselves in their second battle with a top-5 ranked program in as many days, running the Patriots into the late innings.
Bailey Killough pitched a strong scoreless four innings against the Patriots to start the game for Rogers State. Killough allowed just one hit and a walk with three strikeouts in the no decision.
The Hillcats struggled offensively as well, being limited to just four hits total in the game. However,
Allie McFetridge would give Rogers State the lead with a solo homerun in the top of the sixth inning.
The lead would not last long though, as the Patriots responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs. Texas-Tyler had four of their five hits in the game come in the inning, as the Patriots would take the lead with a two-RBI double and then added an insurance run later in the inning with a single.
In game two, the Hillcats jumped back to their winning ways as Rogers State scored five runs in the first two innings to pull ahead comfortably.
With the bases loaded,
Mikayla Waggnor singled home
Danelle Day and
Jaylan Gibson to give the Hillcats a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The Hillcats then used the long ball to add three more runs in the second inning.
Hailey Seago hit a solo homerun to right center to start the inning's scoring. A few batters later, with
Tailee Reding on base, Gibson put one over the fence in left center as Rogers State went up 5-0.
Christian Brothers would cut the deficit back to two runs over the next two innings. Christian Brothers would load the bases in the third inning and score a pair of runs. They would then add a run in the fourth with an RBI groundout.
Rogers State would answer back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on back-to-back hits. Day would single with two runners on, bringing home Reding. Day and Gibson would then score on a double from McFetridge.
Reding picked up the win, tossing 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. She also had five strikeouts.
Killough earned a three-inning save, allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts.
The Hillcats will return to action on Friday, as Rogers State travels to the Oklahoma City area to take part in the Edmond Regional Festival. The Hillcats will face Texas Women's University and Washburn on the first day in Edmond.
