PITTSBURG, Kan. – Rogers State softball opened up the weekend with a pivotal sweep of Pittsburg State in MIAA play at the Pittsburg State Softball Complex Friday afternoon.
 
GAME ONE
#22 Rogers State 9, Pittsburg State 0
Records:  Rogers State (19-10, 8-5 MIAA)  |  Pittsburg State (12-19, 6-7 MIAA)
W: Andrea Morales (11-4)  |  L: Kaylee Burns (6-8)

How It Happened

• The Hillcats took an early lead in the top of the first. After a leadoff walk by Sabrina Anguiano, followed up by a double from Tailee Reding, Makayla Bowman brought both baserunners around for the opening two runs of the game with a single through the left side.
• Later in the inning, Jaylan Gibson singled home Bowman for the third run and in the next at bat, Danelle Day scored on a groundout by Elexis Watson.
• Andrea Morales would be dominant in the circle allowing just two baserunners in the first four innings with four strikeouts, holding onto the 4-0 advantage.
• Rogers State would add to its lead in the fifth inning. Following a leadoff walk by Anguiano, Reding hit a two-run homerun to left to extend RSU's lead to 6-0.
• A two-out double by Day in the sixth inning saw Payton Stroud score an extend the lead.
• In the seventh, Rogers State would get two more runs on a two-run homerun by Lana Gass.

Game Notes

• The Hillcats picked up a season high 16 hits in the victory. The previous season high was 15 vs Missouri S&T. The previous conference high was 11 against Central Missouri last week.
• Reding's homerun was her third of the season and the third in the last 15 days.
• Gass hit her first collegiate homerun.
• Morales finished with nine strikeouts as she picked up her eighth shutout of the season. Morales scattered three hits and one walk.
• Rogers State improved to 9-3 in the first game of a doubleheader this season.

GAME TWO
#22 Rogers State 4, Pittsburg State 3
Records:  Rogers State (20-10, 9-5 MIAA)  |  Pittsburg State (12-20, 6-8 MIAA)
W: Andrea Morales (12-4)  |  L: Taylor Compton (3-5)


How It Happened

• The Hillcats would once again jump out in front in the top of the first as Day hit a RBI double down the right field line to bring around Reding to give Rogers State a 1-0 lead.
• Pittsburg State would answer in the bottom of the second with its first runs of the game, taking advantage of a Hillcat error. The Gorillas took the lead as Kylee Bohle doubled to right center to bring around two unearned runs.
• Pittsburg State would extend its lead in the fourth with a bases loaded walk, but M'Kayla Hillman would pitch out of the jam, forcing a groundout to end the inning with the bases loaded.
• Rogers State would respond in the top of the fifth, as Day drove in two more runs with another double down the line, this time to left with the bases loaded, scoring Gass and Anguiano to tie the game at 3-3.
• After Hillman pitched a scoreless fifth and Morales came in to pitch a scoreless sixth, Rogers State retook the lead in the top of the seventh with an RBI double down the left field line from Bowman to score Anguiano, who led off the inning with a single.
• Morales would hold on in the seventh, stranding two Gorillas on base to give the Hillcats the sweep.

Game Notes

• Rogers State completed its sixth doubleheader sweep of the season, including its third in MIAA play.
• The Hillcats evened up the series with Pittsburg State, tying the all-time series at 8-8 with the win in game two.
• Morales picked up her first two-win day of the season. The junior had not made two appearances on the same day this season.
• Day's three RBIs were her ninth multi-RBI game of the season, matching Watson for a team high.
• Anguiano recorded her first three-hit game of her career with the Hillcats.

Up Next
Rogers State will be back in action on Saturday, taking on Missouri Southern in a MIAA doubleheader in Joplin. The Hillcats and Lions are scheduled to get underway at noon at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.