TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – No. 1 Rogers State softball (21-2, 2-0 MIAA) started MIAA play out on the right foot as they swept rival Northeastern State (14-8, 0-2 MIAA) in a road doubleheader on Friday.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 3, NSU 1
 
In the first game of the day, the RiverHawks got on the board first with a run in the first inning. A single down the right field line brought in the run.
 
The Hillcats got the run back and tied the game 1-1 in the top of the third. Abbey Rogers led the inning off with a single to the shortstop and was pinch run for by Bobbi Leitha. Marissa Smith moved Leitha to second with a sacrifice bunt. She moved to third as Paxton Donaldson grounded out to the shortstop. Chelsea Spain earned a 3-1 walk to put runners at the corners with one out. Leitha scored as she stole home as part of a double steal with Spain.
 
RSU took their first lead in the fourth inning, adding another run to go up 2-1. Lana Gass launched a first pitch blast over the left center field wall to start the frame.
 
They extended their lead to 3-1 with one final run in the fifth inning. Rogers was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and was pinch run for by Callie Yellin. Yellin then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Smith brought her in with a single up the middle.
 
Over the final two innings, both starters refused to allow another run and only gave up one combined hit with four runners left stranded.  
 
Reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Week, Sara Llamas-Howell (10-0) earned her 10th win of the season working her fifth complete game of the year and scattered four hits while allowing only one run with a strikeout. Savannah Evans (5-4) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 3, NSU 1
 
It was the Hillcats who struck first in the second game with an early 1-0 lead in the second inning after both starters worked a scoreless frame to start. Callie Yellin blasted a two-out triple to right center to get things going. She crossed home plate on the next at-bat as Marissa Smith drove her in with a double to left center.
 
The RiverHawks got the run back to tie things at 1-1 in the home half of the third. A passed ball brought the run in from third.
 
In the top of the fifth, Yellin again came up big at the plate as she launched a ball over the left field fence for solo homer and to give RSU a 2-1 lead.
 
The Hillcats added one final run in the top of the sixth to seal the 3-1 victory. Abbey Rogers earned a one out, 3-1 walk and was pinch run for by Bobbi Leitha. Jaylan Gibson singled to center to put runners at first and second. Once again, Yellin showed out as she drove in Leitha with a RBI single up the middle for her second RBI of the game.
 
Jade Sanders (6-0) earned the complete game win scattering six hits without allowing an earned run with six strikeouts. Madison Heinle (5-3) took the loss.
 
The Hillcats will return home to the Diamond Sports Complex on Tuesday, March 21 as they step out of league play for a mid-week doubleheader with Southwestern Oklahoma State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.