ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Rogers State softball opened up the Hy-Vee Classic with two wins at the Bill McKinney Softball Complex, as the No. 8 Hillcats defeated No. 14 Winona State and Upper Iowa.
GAME ONE
#9 Rogers State 3, #14 Winona State 2
Records: Rogers State (11-4) | Winona State (9-1)
W: Andrea Morales (6-2) |
L: Liz Pautz (3-1)
How It Happened
- Winona State would take an early lead after recording a lead-off single, followed by a one-out double in the top of the first to go up 1-0.
- After giving up the early run, Andrea Morales settled in and recorded five-straight strikeouts.
- After the Hillcat offense struggled early, Rogers State plated two runs in the third to take the lead. Tailee Reding singled home Payton Stroud from second to tie the game at 1-1.
- In the next at bat, Makayla Bowman singled home Reding from second to give Rogers State a 2-1 lead.
- Winona State would answer with a run in the fourth, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch, followed up by a wild pitch and a passed ball, before a sacrifice fly led to an unearned run against Morales and tied the game at 2.
- The game would remain at 2-2 and head into extra innings. After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth for the Hillcat defense, Rogers State loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning.
- Elexis Watson then drove in the winning run with a walk-off single through the right side, scoring Stroud.
Game Notes
- The victory was Rogers State's third over a ranked team this season and second over a top-15 opponent. The Hillcats are 3-3 against ranked teams in 2021.
- Morales finished with nine strikeouts and did not allow a walk. She gave up two runs, one warned, on five hits and a hit batter.
- Stroud was the only Hillcat with multiple hits in the game, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Jaylan Gibson was perfect at the plate, going 1-for-1 with two walks.
- Bowman also finished with a hit and a walk, the only other Hillcat to reach safely twice in the game.
GAME TWO
#9 Rogers State 5, Upper Iowa 1
Records: Rogers State (12-4) | Fort Hays State (4-7)
W: M'Kayla Hillman (4-0) |
L: Sydney Wilcox (1-4)
How It Happened
- Playing as the visiting team, the Hillcats struck first in the top of the first, as Rogers State scored three runs. Elexis Watson grounded into a fielder's choice RBI that allowed Danelle Day to score from third,
- Later in the inning, Reding would score on a wild pitch.
- Rylee DeLozier capped off the inning with a single up the middle to score Watson.
- Watson would add another run in the fifth inning, hitting a solo homerun to make it 4-0.
- Upper Iowa scored their only run in the fifth, using a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in the run.
- Bowman would cap the scoring with an RBI single in the seventh to score Reding and give Rogers State a 5-1 lead.
Game Notes
- The victory for Rogers State was win 150 for head coach Andrea Vaughan in her sixth season.
- Hillman tossed all seven innings, recording eight strikeouts with two walks. She allowed the one run on six hits.
- Rogers State nearly doubled up Upper Iowa in hits, with the final tally 11-6 in favor of Rogers State.
- Four Hillcats finished the game with multiple hits.
- Watson hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season.
- Lana Gass and Rylee DeLozier both went 2-for-4 on the day
Up Next
Rogers State will be back in action on Sunday, taking on Bemidji State and Minnesota State-Mankato in the final two games of the Hy-Vee Classic for the Hillcats. The first game is set to begin at noon, with the second game immediately following.
