LUBBOCK, Texas – Rogers State softball split its doubleheader with Lubbock Christian to open up the three-game Heartland Conference series on Thursday.
 
The Hillcats defeated the Lady Chaps 9-2 in game one before falling 13-5 in game two.
 
The Hillcats fell behind to Lubbock Christian in game one as a solo homerun put the hosts ahead in the second inning. However, Rogers State responded with a six-run inning in the third to take control of the game.
 
Abigail Taylor scored the opening run on a ball in play by Jaylan Gibson. Danelle Day then doubled to right center, bringing around Gibson and Tailee Reding.
 
Allie McFetridge then brought around Day with a single through the right side. Paige Westover, who pinch ran for McFetridge, then scored on a Mikayla Waggnor single. Taylor capped off the inning with a single up the middle to score Waggnor.
 
In the fourth inning, Gibson doubled down the left field line to score Reding, as the Hillcats went ahead 7-1.
 
After a run by the hosts in the fifth, Rogers State added two more runs in the sixth to seal the victory. With Reding on, McFetridge hit a home run to left field for the final runs of the game.
 
Andrea Morales picked up her 21^st win of the season with the complete game victory. Morales allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
 
In game two, the hosts would capitalize on a Hillcat error to take a five-run lead. After a Taylor Santistevan solo home run in the third to put the Hillcats on the scoreboard, the Lady Chaps used two errors to score four more runs.
 
The Hillcats would rally in the fourth to score four runs and cut the deficit to 10-5. Westover hit an RBI single to score Taylor Malett. Waggnor also scored on an error later in the play.
 
Sierra Skaggs then hit a two-RBI single to score Westover and Rylee DeLozier.
 
The Hillcats were unable to add anymore offense, while the Lady Chaps added a run in fourth and three in the fifth to close out the game.
 
Rogers State will face Lubbock Christian in the rubber match of the series on Friday. Game three of the series is set for 1 p.m.