MARYVILLE. Mo. – No. 3 Rogers State softball (35-3, 14-0 MIAA) took care of business as they swept Northwest Missouri (7-32, 1-13 MIAA) on Sunday with nine home runs between the two teams.
GAME ONE - RSU 15, NWMSU 1 5 Innings
The Hillcats wasted little time as exploded for six runs out of the gate in the first inning. Chelsea Spain led off with a solo home run. Bridgett Morales kept things going with a three-run blast of her own, bringing in Abbey Rogers and Nicole Price. Makayla Bowman capped the inning off with her own two-run homer, plating Lana Gass.
The Bearcats got a run back in the bottom of the third with a solo home run.
RSU tacked on four more runs in the top of the forth to push out to 10-1. Rogers scored Spain with a RBI double to left center. Morales went yard again with another three-run moonshot, with Callie Yellin and Jaylan Gibson crossing home plate.
The Hillcats closed out the game with five final runs in the fifth inning to seal the 15-1 win. Yellin got in on the home run fun with a grand slam bringing in Gibson, Rylee DeLozier and Spain. Gass scored on a RBI fielder's choice from Bowman.
Andrea Morales (20-1) was nearly untouchable as she earned her 20th win of the season working 4.0 innings with eight strikeouts and only allowing one hit. Hayden Simmons (2-10) took the loss.
GAME TWO - RSU 10, NWMSU 0 5 Innings
The second saw a more defensive heavy style to begin as both starters worked the opening frame with out giving up a run.
RSU got on the board in the top of the second as Kimberli Presnell drove in Faren Walker with a RBI double to right center to take a 1-0 lead.
They added three more runs in the top of the third to push out to 4-0. Callie Yellin blasted her second homer of the day, this one a three-run shot that plated Lana Gass and Jackie Zaferes.
The Hillcats broke the game open with five runs in the top of the fourth to go up 9-0. Makayla Bowman led off the inning with a solo homer. Abbey Rogers continued the streak of long balls with the second grand slam of the day, driving in Jaylan Gibson, Nicole Price and Chelsea Spain.
RSU closed out the game with a final run in the top of the fifth for the 10-0 win. Marissa Smith scored on a wild pitch.
M'Kayla Hillman (12-2) was absolutely dominant as she earned the win, only allowing a single hit in 4.0 innings of work. Breck Dickey (4-11) took the loss.
The Hillcats return to action on Friday, April 15 as they continue the road trip in Wichita, Kan. against Newman. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 3 p.m.
