CLAREMORE, Okla. – The No. 12 Rogers State softball team recorded two of the program's biggest wins in the history of Hillcat softball with a monumental sweep of No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce on Tuesday at the Diamond Sports Complex.
GAME ONE
#12 Rogers State 8, #2 Texas A&M-Commerce 0
Records: Rogers State (15-8) | Texas A&M-Commerce (21-7)
W: Andrea Morales (8-4) | L
: Emily Otto (8-4)
How It Happened
- Danelle Day was responsible for the game's first two runs in the bottom on the first inning after she hit a two-run shot that would sneak inside the right field foul pole, bringing around Tailee Reding with the home run.
- In the third inning, the Hillcats added four runs to extend their lead to 6-0.
- The third and fourth runs came by way of an RBI single to seconf base from Taylor that would score Bowman and Reding.
- The fifth run came after Jaylan Gibson singled through the left side, which would advance Taylor and send Day in for a 5-0 lead.
- The sixth run came after Payton Stroud singled to left field, scoring Abigail Taylor.
- Rogers State added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to put themselves in position for a run-rule victory.
- Taylor added her third RBI of the game as she hit a solo shot to center field.
- The final run came after Allie McFetridge hit a pinch hit single up the middle, sending Gibson in to put RSU ahead 8-0
- Andrea Morales would close out the game in the top of the fifth inning, putting up another scoreless inning to help the Hillcats win by run rule.
Game Notes
- Taylor finished game one 2-for-3 from the plate, with three RBI's, two runs, and a home run.
- Day finished 1-for-2 from the plate, with two runs, two RBI's, a home run, and a walk.
- Gibson finished a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate, with an RBI and a walk.
- Morales pitched five innings, recording seven strikeouts, five hits allowed, and a walk.
- Rogers State registered 10 hits, doubling the number of hits that Texas A&M-Commerce earned (five).
GAME TWO
#12 Rogers State 4, #2 Texas A&M-Commerce 3
Records: Rogers State (16-8) | Texas A&M-Commerce (21-8)
W: M'Kayla Hillman (6-1) | L
: Alyssa LeBlanc (13-4)
How It Happened
- The Lions got off to a quick start, as pitch Alyssa LeBlanc would hit a two-run homer to right field in the two outs in the top of the first.
- In the second inning, Day hit a home run that deflected off of the flagpole in center field. However, the run was overturned after it was determined that the senior had taken off her helmet before touching home plate. She was rewarded a triple for the play, but the two-run lead for the Lions stayed intact.
- The Hillcats were retired in order until the fourth inning, when Sabrina Anguiano started the inning with a walk and Tailee Reding followed it up with a single.
- Makayla Bowman stepped up and hit a homer to left field, scoring Reding and Anguiano, to give the Hillcats a 3-2 lead.
- The Lions responded with a run in the top of the fifth inning after back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 3-3.
- Both teams would go hitless until the seventh inning.
- The Lions would load the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but Hillman and Hillcats would retire the Lions without giving up any runs.
- Rogers State threatened early in the seventh, putting a runner on second with no outs. Jaylan Gibson hit a single to right field, but Faren Walker would be caught after a strong play in the outfield forced the base runner to try to retreat to third where she was tagged out.
- Gibson would eventually reach third as Rogers State put runners on the corners for McFetridge, who pinch hit. McFetridge hit a ball toward second base, which allowed Gibson to score the winning run from third as McFetridge picked up her second RBI of the day in pinch hit situations.
Game Notes
- Bowman went 1-for-3 from the plate, with three RBI's and a run scored.
- Gibson and Reding also went 1-for-3 from the plate with a run scored.
- Elexis Watson was walked twice, and Sabrina Anguiano was walked once.
- Hillman had seven strikeouts and three runs on four hits in seven complete innings.
- The Hillcats improve to 5-3 this season against teams ranked in the Top 25 Rankings.
Up Next
Rogers State begins an eight-game road trip and 14-straight conference games away from home with a trip to Lincoln University on Friday. The Hillcats will take on the Tigers on April 2 in Jefferson City, with a doubleheader slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
