EDMOND, Okla. – Rogers State softball (10-1) swept their final two games of the OC/UCO Invitational on Sunday with wins over Midwestern State (1-4) and Cameron (9-1). This is the best start to a season in the Division II era and the best start in school history since 2013.
GAME ONE - RSU 4, MSU 3
In the first game of the day, the Hillcats got things started early with a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. Tailee Reding earned a leadoff walk on a 3-1 count and later scored on a RBI double to center from Jaylan Gibson.
RSU would tack on a run in both the second and third inning to push out to a 3-0 lead. Chelsea Spain blasted a leadoff solo homer to right center in the second. Faren Walker scored on a RBI groundout to short by Lana Gass in the third.
The Mustangs finally got on the board in the top of the fifth to trim the deficit to 3-1. The run scored on an error by the right fielder. They then cut the lead to 3-2 with another run in the sixth inning on a RBI single to right.
The Hillcats answered in the bottom of the sixth to go up 4-2. A bases loaded walk brought home Nicole Gonzalez.
Midwestern State tried to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh with a solo homer to right center to cut the lead to 4-3. However, a fly ball to left during the next at-bat ended the threat.
M'Kayla Hillman (2-1) earned the win going 6.2 innings with four strikeouts and only two walks. Abbey Beasley (1) earned the save.
GAME TWO - RSU 17, Cameron 2
In the second game of the day, the Hillcats lit up the scoreboard as they took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Abbey Rogers drove in Makayla Bowman and Tailee Reding with a RBI single to third.
RSU exploded for 12 runs in the second inning to jump out to a 14-0 advantage. This was the most runs scored in a single inning since the Hillcats put across 15 runs against Missouri S&T in the first inning on March 6, 2021. Reding got things started with a bases clearing, three RBI double that brought in Nicole Price, Kimberli Presnell and Bridgette Morales. A Jaylan Gibson single to left scored Reding. Rogers plated Gibson with a RBI double down the left field line, Chelsea Spain scored Elexis Watson with a RBI double to center. Presnell doubled to left plating Spain and Rogers. Presnell and Morales came in on a double from Price, who then scored on a Gibson RBI single to short. Gibson crossed home on a fielding error by the left fielder.
The Hillcats tacked on three more runs in the third to push out to 17-0. Morales scored Callie Yellin with a RBI single to right. Spain scored on a RBI groundout to short from Presnell. Price brought in Morales with a RBI single to left.
The Aggies managed to score two runs in the top of the fourth to make it 17-2. The first run came in on a RBI single up the middle, with the other run scoring on a RBI double to left center.
Andrea Morales (6-0) earned the win with a complete game in five innings with seven strikeouts and only allowing two walks. Josie Swafford (4-1) suffered the loss.
RSU will be back in action on Fri., Feb. 18 as they return to Edmond, Okla. to face off against Harding in the first game of the UCO/OC Invitational. First pitch is set for 12:45 p.m.
