CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 8 Rogers State softball (37-8, 14-6 MIAA) took down the Hornets ina doubleheader sweep to open the final homestand of the regular season on Friday.
 
GAME 1 – RSU 5, ESU 3 (8 innings)
 
The first game was a hard fought pitcher's duel for the bulk of the game as both starters carried no-hitters into the fourth inning.
 
The Hillcats broke the stalemate in the home half of the fourth as Nicole Price reached on a fielding error by the pitcher. A Bridgett Morales single to center moved her to third. A fielder's choice allowed Price to score to put RSU on the board 1-0.
 
The Hornets answered back with a run of their own to knot things at 1-1 with a RBI single to right.
 
Both pitchers scattered three combined hits over the sixth and seventh innings to force extras.
 
In the top of the eighth, ESU took their first lead of the game at 3-1 after a two-out single to center drove in two runs.
 
The Hillcats responded in the bottom half as Ashtyn Barrett laced a ball down the right field line for a leadoff single. Facing a 2-2 count, Lana Gass unloaded on a pitch sending the ball careening over the center field fence to tie things at 3-3. After Paxton Donaldson got on with a one out single to right, Morales smashed a ball over the right center wall to walk the game off with a 5-3 victory.
 
Sara Llamas-Howell (18-2) earned the complete game win only allowing one earned run with a strikeout. Gracie Rabe (12-8) took the loss.
 
GAME 2 – RSU 5, ESU 2
 
The second game looked to be more of the same as neither team could break the seal in the first two innings.
 
RSU jumped on the board with a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Paxton Donaldson reached first on fielder's choice with one out. She then moved to second and then third on a Nicole Price single deep in the six hole. Abbey Rogers cleared the bases with a RBI single to center, plating both Donaldson and Price.
 
An Ashtyn Barrett solo bomb to left in the fourth added to the 3-0 lead.
 
The Hillcats tacked on two final insurance runs in the sixth inning to extend the margin to 5-0. After Callie Yellin reached on a fielder's choice, Jaylan Gibson torched a two-run laser over the left center field wall.
 
The Hornets tried to mount a comeback in the seventh but were only able to push across two runs to give RSU the 5-2 win. The two runs scored on a two-run blast to left.
 
Jade Sanders (13-3) earned the complete game win, only allowing two earned runs with 11 strikeouts and no walks. Sydney Righi (4-3) took the loss.
 
RSU will welcome Washburn to the Diamond Sports Complex tomorrow finale as the Hillcats honor three seniors in their final home games. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.