COMMERCE, Texas – Rogers State Softball opened up the A&M Commerce Invitational on Friday with a doubleheader split against a pair of ranked opponents from the Great American Conference.
The Hillcats opened the day with a 6-3 victory over #23 Arkansas Tech in the afternoon before a comeback bid fell short in an 3-4 loss to #14 Southern Arkansas on Friday evening at the Cain Family Field on the campus of Texas A&M Commerce.
How It Happened (Game 1): The Hillcats fell behind early against Arkansas Tech, as the Golden Suns scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first on a home run.
Rogers State would threaten the Golden Suns in the second inning, loading the bases for
Jaylan Gibson, who drew a walk to bring in
Brielle Tyseling. However, it would be the only run the Hillcats could score in the inning.
The game remained 2-1 in favor of Arkansas Tech until
Makayla Bowman hit a pinch-hit single in the fifth inning to score
Tailee Reding and
Faren Walker, as Rogers State took a lead it never relinquished.
Rogers State would add three more in the sixth inning on an extended rally.
Elexis Watson started the scoring with a single up the middle to score Gibson.
Reding then pushed a sacrifice bunt to allow
Payton Stroud to score from third.
Allie McFetridge would cap off the inning for the Hillcats with a single down the right field line to bring around Watson.
Arkansas Tech would add a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but
Andrea Morales would hold the Golden Suns scoreless in the seventh to secure the victory.
How It Happened (Game 2): M'Kayla Hillman pitched a scoreless first three innings against Southern Arkansas to begin the second game.
Rogers State would grab the lead first in the third inning as
Danelle Day double to right center in the third inning, scoring
Kimberli Presnell from first and Reding from second.
The Muleriders would get one run back in the fourth inning with a solo home run. Southern Arkansas would then tie the game in the fifth with an RBI double.
After the Hillcats were held scoreless for the third consecutive inning in the sixth, Southern Arkansas took the lead in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs. The first run came after a passed ball with the bases loaded and the second run crossed the plate on an RBI single as the Muleriders went ahead 4-2.
The Hilclats would respond in the top of the seventh inning, first with a pinch-hit single by
Hayley Womack. After Presnell re-entered the game for the Hillcats at first, she took second on a wild pitch and then came around to score on a double from Watson to center field.
Tyseling would pinch run for Watson and made it to third base, but the Hillcats fell short with a groundout to close the game.
Players of Note: Morales picked up her fourth victory of the season in game one, as the El Paso, Texas native would allow three runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
Gibson was perfect at the plate against Arkansas Tech. Gibson was 1-for-1 with three walks. She had a run scored and an RBI.
Reding led the Hillcats with four hits on the afternoon. Reding was 4-for-7 at the plate with two runs and an RBI.
Bowman reached base three of her five times to the plate. Following her pinch-hit single in game one, Bowman had a hit and a walk in game two.
Day and Watson finished with nearly identical numbers on the afternoon. Both players were 3-for-8 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. Watson also added a run scored.
Key Statistic: The Hillcats finished the day with 19 hits, outhitting both nationally ranked programs. However, the Hillcats stranded nine base runners in the loss to Southern Arkansas, including five in scoring position.
Notes: The Hillcats picked up their first win against a ranked team this season with the victory over Arkansas Tech.
Rogers State improved to 3-6 all-time against Arkansas Tech, but fell to 1-4 against Southern Arkansas.
Up Next: The Hillcats will be back in action early on Saturday with a single game coming against Texas A&M International. Rogers State will be looking to avenge a postseason loss to Texas A&M last season in the Heartland Conference Tournament.
