COMMERCE, Texas – Rogers State softball suffered it's first two defeats of the season on Tuesday, as the No. 16 Hillcats fell at No. 7 Texas A&M-Commerce in a doubleheader.
The Hillcats and Lions needed extra innings in game one, but the Lions walked off in the eighth inning with a 5-4 victory. Game two saw the Hillcats shutout 8-0.
How It Happened (Game 1): Texas A&M-Commerce took an early lead after a solo home run in the bottom of the first.
The Hillcats answered in the third with three runs.
Payton Stroud singled and then came around to score after an error from the Lions. A few betters later,
Makayla Bowman hit a two-run home run to put Rogers State in front 3-1.
The Hillcats would add a run in the fourth with another home run off the bat of
Elexis Watson, as the Hillcats would go ahead 4-1.
The Lions mounted a comeback that started with a solo homerun in the fifth. Commerce then had a two-run double in the sixth inning to tie the game at 4.
After a scoreless seventh inning and 1-2-3 inning for the Hillcats in the top of the eighth, the Lions walked off in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.
How It Happened (Game 2): The Hillcats struggled to get the offense going in game two. Watson hit a single in the second inning, but it would prove to be the only hit for the Hillcats in the game.
Commerce would score a run in the third, but it was a six-run inning in the fourth, which started with a two-run home run, that blew the game home for the Lions.
The Hillcats would gain a leadoff walk in the fifth, but had three-straight strikeouts after that and the Lions hit a one-out home run in the bottom of the inning to trigger a walk off by run-rule victory.
Players of Note: Watson was the only Hillcat to record a hit in both games. She finished the day 2-for-6 with a solo homerun.
Bowman led the Hillcats in hits on the afternoon, going 3-for-4 in game one, including a two-run home run. She also had a double and a single.
Stroud was the only other Hillcat with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 in game one. Stroud had a double and scored a run. She also had a walk.
Notes from the Game: The teams combined for six homeruns on the afternoon. Both teams had two homeruns in the first game and the Lions finished with two in game two.
The losses snap the Hillcats six game win streak which dated back to the 2020 season. The Hillcats also fall to 1-2 against ranked opposition in 2021.
Up Next: Rogers State will return home and close out the week with a non-conference doubleheader against Missouri S&T on Saturday. First pitch between RSU and Miners is set for noon at the Diamond Sports Complex.
