COMMERCE, Texas - The Rogers State softball team defeated Texas A&M-International 8-0 Saturday morning in their only game of the day at the A&M Commerce Invitational at Cain Family Field on the campus of Texas A&M Commerce.
 
How it Happened: After a scoreless first inning from both the teams, the Hillcats would open up the game with seven runs in the bottom of the second.
 
The Hillcats would load up the bases with their first three batters of the inning. However, a fielder's choice double play to get the lead two runners and leave the Hillcats with runners on first and second with two outs.
 
Mikayla Waggnor would step up and drive a double to left center to score Tailee Reding for the first run of the game. Kimberli Presnell would then be walked to load up the bases again for the Hillcats.
 
Sabrina Anguiano hit single to left field to score Abigail Taylor and Waggnor and advance Presnell to third, giving the Hillcats a 3-0 lead.
 
The Hillcats would continue to get runners around the bases with Jaylan Gibson singling to up the middle toward the shortstop, as Presnell scored to extend the lead to four runs.
 
Danelle Day would then step up to the plate next and hit a towering home run to left field to clear the bases for the Hillcats and put them ahead 7-0.
 
The lead was all Andrea Morales needed as the El Paso native kept the DustDevils offense silent all game for her fifth win of the year.
 
The Hillcats would score one more run in the fifth inning after they once again loaded the bases. Makayla Bowman would then come in to pinch hit and single through the left side of the field to give the Hillcats an 8-0 lead to end the game with a run-rule victory.
 
Players of Note: Andrea Morales pitched a one-hit shutout to help the Hillcats win the game. The only hit against the junior came in the fifth inning, what would be the last inning of the game. Morales would strike out seven batters in the game as well without allowing a walk.
 
Danelle Day would hit her first home run of the year in the game. Day, who was also hit by a pitch, would finish the game with three RBIs and a run.
 
Jaylan Gibson was 1-for-2 at the plate with a walk, RBI and two runs scored.
 
Hayley Womack reached base safely in all three trips to the plate, working the count on two walks and a hit by pitch.
 
Notes: The win avenges a loss in the final game of the 2019 season as the DustDevils would defeat the Hillcats in the Heartland Conference Tournament on a walk off, 3-2, in extra innings.
 
The Hillcats improved to 2-1 in the A&M Commerce Invitational after going 1-1 on Friday.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats will finish the A&M Commerce Invitational on Sunday with a doubleheader. The Hillcats will start the day at noon against Arkansas- Monticello and finish the invitational with their final game at 2:15 p.m. against #10 Texas A&M-Commerce. Both games will be played at Cain Family Field.