CLAREMORE, Okla. – The No. 12 Rogers State softball team swept Newman in a MIAA doubleheader Wednesday night at the Diamond Sports Complex.
The Hillcats (8-2, 2-0 MIAA) combined for seven home runs on the day as Rogers State won 12-0 in game one and 6-0 in game two over the visiting Jets (3-12, 1-3 MIAA) in the first conference games of the season for Rogers State.
How It Happened (Game 1): Elexis Watson got the scoring started for the Hillcats in the first inning, after she hit a home run to right center, scoring
Abigail Taylor and
Makayla Bowman in for the games first three runs of the game.
In the second inning, an RBI single to the right-center field from
Tailee Reding would send
Kimberli Presnell in to give the Hillcats a 4-0 lead.
The next two batters for the Hillcats would hit home runs, as Bowman hit the first home run to center field and Taylor followed it up with a home run to left field, as the Hillcats went ahead 7-0 after two.
In the bottom of the third,
Sabrina Anguiano and Presnell would score after the Jets issued a pair of bases loaded walks to Day and Reding.
Payton Stroud and Day would score the next two runs in the third off of wild pitches, and Reding would score the final run of the game after an RBI single from Taylor to give the Hillcats the 12-0 lead.
Andrea Morales was dominant in the circle for the Hillcats, scattering three hits with no walks or hit-by-pitches. Morales recorded nine strikeouts in a five-inning shutout for the second-straight game.
How It Happened (Game 2): Home runs would be just as important in game two, as Day and Watson both hit solo home runs in the first inning to start the scoring.
The Hillcats added a run in the second inning as Stroud singled to left to score
Rylee DeLozier an extend RSU's lead to 3-0.
Rogers State would add three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Bowman hit a solo home run in the fifth to make it 4-0. In the sixth inning,
Allie McFetridge hit a pinch hit two-run home run, bringing around Day to make it 6-0.
Similar to game one, Hillcat pitching was dominant, this time on the arm of
Delanie Freeze, who matched Morales in giving up just three hits. Freeze finished with 12 strikeouts and allowed just two walks in the game.
Players of Note: Watson and Bowman each finished with two home runs on the day. Watson finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with two walks and a hit by pitch, reaching safely in five of six plate appearances. Watson finished with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Bowman also had two home runs after a 2-for-6 day at the plate with a walk. Bowman finished with three RBIs and three runs scored.
Taylor was a perfect 3-for-3 in game one, hitting a home run and a double. She finished with two RBIs and two runs scored.
McFetridge reached safely in both of her pinch-hit plate appearances. She walked in game on and hit the home run in game two.
Day finished the doubleheader with two hits, including a home run, as well as two walks and a hit-by-pitch. She finished with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Stroud finished the day with three hits, going 3-for-5 at the plate. She had the one RBI and a run scored.
Notes from the Day: The Hillcats recorded back-to-back shutouts in a conference series for the second-straight series. The Hillcats had a pair of 2-0 victories over Fort Hays State in the final series of last season.
Rogers State improved to 12-1 against Newman in the last 13 meetings, dating back to March 2018. Since joining the MIAA together ahead of last season, Rogers State has outscored Newman 40-1 in the four meetings.
The Hillcats have hit 12 home runs in the last four games and are outscoring opponents 52-2 in the same four-game span.
Hillcat pitchers combined for 21 strikeouts in 12 innings of work and gave up just six hits combined in the two games.
Up Next: Rogers State will return to the Diamond Sports Complex on Thursday, as the Hillcats welcome in No. 25 Central Oklahoma for an MIAA doubleheader. First pitch in game one is set for 3 p.m.
