SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – No. 8 Rogers State softball (18-2) swept the final day of the Drury Classic with games against Southwest Baptist (3-8) and William Jewell (1-11) on Saturday.
GAME ONE - RSU 11, SBU 3
In the first game of the day, the Hillcats wasted no time as they exploded for five runs in the top of the first to take an early 5-0 lead. Makayla Bowman double to center to bring in Jaylan Gibson to get things started. Lana Gass doubled to left to plate Bowman and Abbey Rogers. Gass then scored on a RBI double from Elexis Watson, who scored on an error on the same play.
The Bearcats got on the board in the fourth inning with three runs to trim the deficit to 5-3. A RBI single to center scored the first run, with the other two runs coming on a two RBI single to right.
RSU tacked on a run in the bottom half of the fourth to go back up 6-3. Nicole Price scored on a Chelsea Spain ground out back to the pitcher. They added another run in the fifth on a RBI single to right from Alondra Natera that brought home Marissa Smith.
The Hillcats put the game away in the six inning with four final runs to win the game 11-3. Rogers scored Jessica Watson with a RBI single to left. Bowman brought in Gibson with a RBI double to left. Kimberli Presnell plated Rebecca Bell on a fielder's choice. Bowman crossed home for the final run of the game on an Elexis Watson RBI single to left.
Abbey Beasley (3-0) earned the win with 3.2 innings pitched. SBU's Emma Wood (1-3) took the loss.
GAME TWO - RSU 8, WJC 0
In the second game, RSU kept the offense rolling with two runs in the first inning to go up 2-0 early. Jaylan Gibson crossed home on a bases loaded walk from Lana Gass. Makayla Bowman scored on a sacrifice fly from Kimberli Presnell.
The Hillcats added three more runs in the second to push out to 5-0. Jessica Watson crossed home on an error by the first baseman. Nicole Price came in on a RBI fielder's choice from Abbey Rogers. Gass plated Bowman with a RBI single to center.
RSU put the game away with 3 final runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to seal the win 8-0. Gibson scored on a RBI single to center from Rogers. Rogers later scored a RBI single to center from Bridgett Morales. Gass scored the game's final run on a bases loaded walk to Jessica Watson.
Andrea Morales (11-1) continued to be dominant in the circle as she earned the complete game shutout with 13 strikeouts and only allowing one hit. Sammie Welt (0-4) took the loss.
The Hillcats will be back in action on Saturday, March 12 for their home opener at the Diamond Sports Complex and the start of MIAA play against Northeastern State. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
